Filmmakers! Submit Your Shorts and Features to Trieste Science+Fiction Festival

One of Europe’s longest-running sci-fi film festivals, the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival, is accepting submissions for the 2024 edition via FilmFreeway.

Trieste Science+Fiction Festival presents and promotes ‘fantastic’ productions from all over the world in Italy and its neighbouring countries, focusing particularly on science fiction and fantasy movies and audiovisual works.

Awards and Prizes

The Festival features the following competitive sections:

• Asteroid Award – competition for best international science-fiction and fantasy feature-length film;

• Méliès d’argent Award – competition for best European feature-length and short film from the fantastic genre;

There are also the following non-competitive sections:

• Spazio Italia – selection of Italian productions from the fantastic genre open to both feature-length films and short films (Spazio Corto);

• Fantastic Shorts – selection of international short films from the fantastic genre;

• Mondofuturo – selection of international science (-fiction) documentaries, public meetings, and lectures.

• Education Program – a selection of international feature-length and short films from the fantastic genre. Programmes are targeted according to audience age, from 3 to 8. The section features educational activities and workshops open to students of schools and universities, educators, and families.

• Artificial Universe – selection of short films incorporating Artificial Intelligence (‘AI’) tools.

• premieres and special events;

• retrospectives and special programs.

The Selection Committee selects and invites the films, assigning them to the competitive and non-competitive sections of the Festival.

Organised by the Italian film centre La Cappella Underground, the festival is supported by Ministry for the Cultural Heritage – DGC, Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Municipality of Trieste, and the University of Trieste. The first festival was in 1963, and Trieste Science+Fiction Festival has been a member of the M.I.F.F. (Méliès International Festivals Federation) since 2005.

Filmmakers can head to the FilmFreeway page to submit their shorts or features here.

Jonathan Frakes To Direct ARTHUR C. CLARKE’S VENUS PRIME

jonathan frakes in star trek picard

Star Trek alum Jonathan Frakes is set to direct a six-episode series adaptation of Paul Preuss’ novels, “Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime”. Frakes joins a producing team that already includes showrunners and executive producers David Cromican and Dwayne Hill.

Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime is a series of sci-fi novels written by Paul Preuss, based upon stories written by legendary British author Sir Arthur C. Clarke. They tell the story of Sparta, a young woman with superhuman abilities, her search for the truth about her origins, and her battle against the cult known as the Free Spirit. Comprising six stories, the show will presumably assign one episode for each novel.

“When the materials for ‘Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime’ were presented to me, I couldn’t help but devour them,” Jonathan Frakes is quoted saying in Variety. “When asked if I wanted to direct what I read — my answer was a resounding and immediate ‘Hell, yes!’ Working on such a tremendous piece of IP from the mind of another sci-fi legend (who is also a contemporary of the true #1 Gene Roddenberry), will be both an honor and a dream for me.”

Production on the series is due to begin later this year in Canada.

Donald Glover Drops Trailer For BANDO STONE & THE NEW WORLD

still of donald glover and giant octopus in trailer for bando stone & the new world

Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, attempts to survive a post-apocalyptic world in the new trailer for sci-fi comedy Bando Stone & The New World, which the multi-hyphenate artist and filmmaker stars in and directs.

The trailer includes neither a release date nor official synopsis, but it does state that the feature’s original motion picture soundtrack is by, you guessed it, Childish Gambino. This is his first time helming a feature film, though he has flexed his directorial muscles with Swarm, Atlanta, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The trailer features the artist’s upcoming song “Lithonia”, due to release in full on July 2nd.

The trailer sees Donald Glover as Bando Stone, a former pop star unprepared for a post-apocalyptic world that includes oversized and raging animals, weird laser constructions, and dinosaur-esque monsters. Jessica Allain also stars, alongside Glover’s eldest son, Legend.

The lack of information surrounding this film raises questions as to whether Bando Stone & The New World is a ‘real’ film, or whether this is an elaborate way of promoting Childish Gambino’s upcoming album. The fact that the project credits Evi Wilder as the screenwriter just adds to the mystery around the feature, as Wilder has no previous film credits listed.

Either way, you can watch the trailer below:

Check Out an Exclusive Clip from LOOP TRACK

Writer-director and actor Tom Sainsbury, known for superb as Wellington Paranormal and Guns Akimbo, shows his hidden passion for thrillers and human drama with Loop Track, his latest movie, which is a collaboration with Chillbox Creative. Check out an exclusive clip from the film below and read on for details of the feature-packed Blu-ray!

Synopsis: Highly anxious Ian Thompson (Sainsbury) sets off on a solo trek in the New Zealand bush for some respite from the stress of everyday life. His plans for uninterrupted solitude are scuppered; however, his paranoia is only exacerbated when he encounters Nicky (Hayden J Weal) and other hikers. As Ian’s grip on reality weakens, he becomes convinced they are being followed. Miles from civilisation, their journey turns into a fight for survival as Ian’s fears manifest into a surreal battle against an unseen threat lurking in the wilderness. Is it all just in his head? Or is someone, or something, really out there?

Having already triumphed twice in the challenging 48Hours film competition, Tom Sainsbury delivers a gripping and tense psychological thriller that deftly explores the subjects of isolation and paranoia. Intertwining thrilling scares with moments of off-kilter humour, Loop Track is an unforgettable experience that lingers in the mind well beyond the closing credits.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY CONTENTS

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation

• Original stereo audio and 5.1 surround audio

• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

• New audio commentary with director, writer and lead actor Tom Sainsbury alongside producer and editor Gabriel Lunte

• The Story, director and writer Tom Sainsbury introduces the story behind Loop Track

• Tom’s vision, director and writer Tom Sainsbury discusses where the idea behind the film came from

• Origins of the Film, the producers of the film discuss the origins of the film following their short film (Time) Travel Centre

• Characters and the Cast, Tom Sainsbury introduces the cast

• The Creature, featurette detailing how The Creature came to be

• Production, the crew discuss the feature production

• Cinematography, producer and Director of Photography Milon Tesiram discusses the look of the film

• Original Score, composer Mike Newport discusses the score

• The Hut, featurette on the construction and design of the cabin

• Eyers Forest Park Promo, promotional video for the Eyers Forest Park trails

• (Time) Travel Centre, Tom Sainsbury’s 2016 short film, winner of the 48Hours Film Festival

• Image gallery

• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dare Creative

• Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dare Creative

• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by film critic and author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, director’s notes and project background.

Loop Track is released on Blu-ray, Digital, and ARROW in the UK on July 8th.

David Bruckner Sets Next Horror Project At A24

still from david bruckner horror film the ritual

David Bruckner, the filmmaker known for his work on the cult horror anthology series V/H/S, Southbound, The Ritual, 2022’s Hellraiser, and The Night House, has set his next horror movie project over at A24. The film will be titled Mice, from a script by first-time screenwriters Todd Spence and Zak White.

The plot for Mice is being kept tightly under wraps for now, but we do know it’s being sold as a horror thriller.

Considering that A24 has become one of the leading forces in today’s horror movie landscape, with upcoming projects including Ti West’s trilogy-concluding MaXXXine, The Front Room, Heretic, and more, we can expect that Mice is an impressive package to have attracted the studio.

It was also reported earlier this year that David Bruckner would be remaking the classic sci-fi horror The Blob, both writing and directing the project for Warner Bros. David Goyer and Keith Levine are set to produce this new take on the genre classic. At this point, it’s unclear how both projects will fit in Bruckner’s filmmaking schedule, so there’s no indication of when we might expect Mice to begin production.

Stay tuned for more plot details, casting news, and release information as we hear it!


New VAN HELSING Series In The Works

hugh jackman as van helsing in 2004 film. van helsing series in the works at cbs

Vampire slayer Abraham Van Helsing will return to the silver screen in a new Van Helsing series for CBS.

Jonathan Lee, the author behind Netflix and the BBC’s upcoming drama series Lockerbie, has been tapped to write the television series, with Deadline reporting that the show “is believed to have landed at CBS after a hotly contested auction”. Elementary’s Rob Doherty will be executive producing the horror series alongside Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman under their deal with Lionsgate Television.

The show is intended as a contemporary take on the monster hunter; Dr. Abraham Van Helsing uses his uniquely inquisitive mind working alongside his ex, relentless FBI special agent Mina Harker, to solve New York City’s most harrowing cases.

The recent Syfy series, also titled Van Helsing, was a five-season long horror-fantasy show centred on a new character played by Kelly Overton, Vanessa Van Helsing, a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing. The iconic vampire-hunting character also got a solo movie back in 2004, with Hugh Jackman starring in the title role.

No word yet on who might star in this new Van Helsing series, but stay tuned to find out more about casting, a release date, and more as we hear it!

Sarah Michelle Gellar Joins DEXTER: ORIGINAL SIN

sarah michelle gellar joins dexter: original sin. still from wolf pack series

Sarah Michelle Gellar is the latest star to join Showtime’s prequel series Dexter: Original Sin, to play CSI Chief Tanya Martin and unwittingly train a certain serial killer-to-be.

She joins Patrick Gibson (Shadow and Bone), Christian Slater, and Molly Brown in the upcoming series, with Gibson playing the younger version of Michael C. Hall’s titular Dexter Morgan. James Martinez also stars as Angel Batista, with Christina Milian as Maria LaGuerta, Alex Shimizu as Vince Masuka, Reno Wilson as Bobby Watt, and Patrick Dempsey as Aaron Spencer, Captain of the Miami Metro Homicide Division. Dexter’s showrunner, Clyde Phillips, returns to showrun this prequel series.

The 10-episode original drama series from Paramount+ With Showtime, Dexter: Original Sin takes place in 1991 Miami, and revolves around Dexter as he goes from student to avenging serial killer. With guidance from his father, Harry (Slater), Dexter adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people without being discovered by law enforcement. At the same time, he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Police Department.

“Sarah Michelle Gellar is a pop culture icon who perfectly rounds out our best-in-class cast featuring Christian Slater and Patrick Dempsey among others,” shared Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks. “We’re thrilled to have her return to the Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios family and join the origin story of the Dexter franchise.”

Ryan Gosling And Amazon MGM Team For Zombie Comedy

ryan gosling in fall guy

Amazon MGM Studios has landed the zombie comedy film package I Used to Eat Brains, Now I Eat Kale, with Ryan Gosling attached to produce the feature alongside Jessie Henderson, his partner in the production banner General Admission. This project falls under their newly-signed first-look deal with Amazon MGM.

Adam and Daniel Cooper, aka the Cooper Twins, wrote the unpublished short story and will write the script adaptation for the film. Details are being kept under wraps, but I Used to Eat Brains has been described as being set in a “post-post-apocalyptic” world in which former zombies are trying to reintegrate into mainstream society. Ryan Gosling is not, as of yet, attached to star in the film, nor has a director been tapped.

Daniel and Adam Cooper have written and directed several award-winning short films, which have received acclaim at such festivals as Cannes, TIFF, HollyShorts and Hamptons. This zombie comedy marks their first feature film project.

Gosling’s next project is also at Amazon MGM: He is starring in and producing Project Hail Mary, the long-awaited adaptation of the sci-fi novel from The Martian‘s Andy Weir, which Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are directing from a script by Drew Goddard.

LANTERNS Series Gets The Green Light

dc comics character john stewart aka green lantern to appear in hbo series lanterns

HBO has, at long last, given a series order for Lanterns, based on the DC Comics characters John Stewart and Hal Jordan. Ozark’s Chris Mundy will serve as showrunner on the eight-episode series and co-write alongside Damon Lindelof, best known for his work on Watchmen and Lost, and Tom King, known for his work on a number of Batman titles.

The news comes after an almost five-year-long development process at HBO Max, as they were originally developing the series with producer Greg Berlanti, the mastermind of the DC Arrowverse on The CW and one of the writers on the ill-fated, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively-starring 2011 Green Lantern feature film. Initially, the series was going to centre on Guy Gardner and Alan Scott, with Seth Grahame-Smith coming aboard as writer and showrunner, even writing a full season’s worth of scripts for the show.

With a creative overhaul in 2022, however, Grahame-Smith’s vision was scrapped and the powers that be chose to refocus the series around John Stewart, another member of the Lanter Corps and the first Black superhero to appear in DC Comics.

“We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm,” DC Heads James Gunn and Peter Safran said in a statement. “John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.”

Sequel To Bob Odenkirk’s NOBODY Finds Director

nobody 2 finds director in timo tjahjanto

The sequel to the 2021 action-thriller Nobody, which starred Bob Odenkirk, has found its director and has been slated for a summer 2025 release: Timo Tjahjanto is set to helm the follow-up film for Universal Pictures and 87North.

The script comes from Odenkirk, Derek Kolstad, Aaron Rabin and Umair Aleem. Plot details are still under wraps, however, with Ilya Naishuller’s initial film centring on family man Hutch Mansell, who picks his secret career as an assassin back up after he and his loved ones are targeted by a Russian crime boss. Variety suggests that Connie Nielsen will return as Becca Mansell, the wife to Odenkirk’s lead. No other casting has been announced.

Tjahjanto is known for his work on the V/H/S horror film franchise, specifically in V/H/S/2 and V/H/S/94, and has also helmed the Netflix-released Indonesian features The Night Comes for Us, May the Devil Take You, and The Big 4. He is also one half of the filmmaking duo the Mo Brothers, alongside Kimo Stamboel. Together, they have written and directed the films Macabre, Killers and Headshot.

At the time of the first film’s release, STARBURST’s Paul Mount wrote: “Utterly preposterous verging on the ludicrous, Nobody explodes off the screen like a big box of firecrackers and it will demand you set aside your critical faculties and just revel in the madness and the utter chaos unfolding before your very eyes. File this one alongside last year’s Unhinged as a guilty pleasure you really shouldn’t feel guilty about for one second.”

Nobody 2 is set to release in cinemas from August 15th, 2025.