THE MISSION
We celebrate the Sci-fi genre and its filmmakers who seek out new life and new civilizations, boldly going where no man has gone before. The second edition of this festival is open for submissions until 15th September.
THE LOCATION
Our first festival launched on the 17th and 18th November 2017 in Germany’s wonderful capital, Berlin. And we were pleased to announce that the screenings took place at Berlins’ world famous Babylon. The cinema first opened in 1929 for silent movies, it had an orchestra pit and a cinema organ which is still used today. It has three screening areas. The main theatre for 500 people and the smaller Salle 2 and 3 for 70 and 45 respectively. You can find out more here: BABYLON Wikipedia
Tickets for the this years festival can be found at BABYLON BERLIN
FESTIVAL TEAM
Alexander Pfander – Festival Director
I am a scriptwriter, director & creator of films and series, with a strong interest in storytelling and new world creating. My media experience includes editing and post-production and am the creator of the award winning Sci-fi Webseries, Mission Backup Earth. I’m always looking for new adventures in the media world and as a Sci-Fi fan I want to connect filmmakers and audiences by showcasing work from around the world that celebrates the Sci-Fi genre. WEBSITE
Anthony Straeger – Festival Director
I have been in the business for over 30 years, both as an actor, filmmaker and writer. With a passion for horror and sci-fi, I’ve written a number of feature scripts including: Between the Walls, which has been optioned in the UK and The Kamenka Experiment, which has won two screen writing festivals in the US. A recent co-write Fotoautomat Man is currently in post-production. It’s a joy to be part of Berlin Sci-fi Filmfest and truly believe we are building something for the future. WEBSITE
Jack O’Shea – Festival Director
I have been working in the German Film Industry for a number of years where I had the pleasure of meeting Alex Pfander on his project, Mission Backup Earth. As his Assistant Director, I worked on the series. We have had a successful 2017 with filmmakers from across the globe and we are gearing up for an even better one in 2018.
WEBSITE
Reginald Grünenberg – PR
In 2002 I was CEO and co-founded the German company Audiantis where we developed interactive streaming. In 2007 I opened its subsidiary Audiantis Japan K.K. in Tokyo. Recently a historical novel Shiboruto about a German physician who went to Japan in 1823 and introduced western sciences to the Japanese intellectuals. I am fascinated by science fiction and science fact.
FESTIVAL FRIENDS
For our first festival we felt it was important not just to have industry professionals and members of the BSFF team, but Sci-fi Fans as members of the Jury. There are many hours of footage to sit through, digest and judge, it is not an easy process, but is one of the most important parts of the festival.
2018 JURY MEMBERS:
This year as last we have not only our Berlin Sci-fi Team on the Jury but a selected Jury of guests.
Isabella Hermann:
Isabella Hermann is a political scientist by training and a science-fiction fan by passion. She holds a PhD in International Relations and talks and writes about how science-fiction interacts with world politics and mirrors societal challenges. In this sense, science-fiction shows us not only alternative futures, but makes us think about in what kind of future we want to live in. Isabella works as scientific coordinator of an interdisciplinary research group on artificial intelligence at Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Website: www.popular-political-science.org
Rick McLeod:
Rick McLeod is a director, writer, producer and sometimes actor, depending on his mood. He is also a BAFTA crew registered director of photography and cinematography and is currently attached to 2 independent European features as well as his own companies productions currently in development. Rick has no genres specific preferences, but is looking forward to viewing and being part of the berlin Sci-fi Filmfest Jury. Rick enjoys the creativity of film making with his company Celtic Storm Films.
Iwan Romanow:
Hails from the Ukraine, but has now resided in Berlin for several years. He has studied media and met Alex Pfander on the set of Mission Backup Earth where he was involved in the sound department and then subsequently worked with Anthony Straeger on his production of Fotoautomat Man. Iwan said: I love science fiction. Whether pure science fiction or fantasy, it is always one more book, one more film and as a science fiction addiction it is a wonderful way to relax.
Caprice Crawford:
Caprice Crawford is an American Talent Agent, producer and actress based in Berlin. She began working as a photographer, creating beautiful head shots for creative talents, including many celebrity actors. In addition to her photography work, she began working as a film producer and talent scout for new faces. Caprice has been running Crawford Talents International Agency since 2016 and is pleased to be the Panel Judge for BEST ACTOR & BEST ACTRESS and is awarding a total prize on behalf of the agency of 500 dollars.
David Desmond:
David has worked with numerous arts festivals in Ireland over the past ten years, including Dublin International Film Festival and Cork Film Festival. He started Dublin Sci-Fi Film Festival out of a love for the genre and in the hope of bringing a greater wealth of international and Irish sci-fi to the big screen in Dublin. He’s pleased to reciprocate the AUTOMATIC SELECTION AWARD with Berlin Scifi Filmfest
