About This Program

Welcome to the festival's sci-fi block! Three shorts and a feature make up this block, where the future is anything but perfect.

Emergency Alert

Directors: Mike Madigan, Mandy Looney

Narrative Short, United States, 2018, 3 min, Black & White

Our thoughts and prayers are not with you at this time. A message from your leader broadcast over the Emergency Alert System, to do with as you interpret, should you choose to accept it.

Great Lakes Connection: The film was shot in Michigan.

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Reset

Director: Chanyo Park

Animation, France, 2017, 2 min, Color, Student Project (Université Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France)

A man struggles after his girlfriend left him. Drunk, he falls asleep before he finishes removing all trace of her from his computer. Something happens. Is it part of his real world or in his dream?

Bleak

Director: Brandon Frye

Narrative Short, United States, 2018, 5 min, Color, Student Project (Oakland University, Rochester, MI, US)

Resources are running scarce and civilization is unraveling, but one man still believes love is worth pursuing.

Great Lakes Connection: The film was produced in Hamtramck, Michigan and all personnel reside in Michigan. Also, the film acknowledges the fresh water crisis that our region faces.

The Encounter

Director: Thomas DeCarlo

Animation, United States, 2017, 13 min, Color

A rookie government agent goes off on his own to hunt down his first UFO and earn the respect of his peers.

Great Lakes Connection: Writer/director/animator Thomas DeCarlo was born, raised, and is currently living in Indiana. The film's star, Zachary Spicer, was born and raised in Indiana.

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Feature Presentation

Future

Narrative Feature, Sci-Fi Drama, United States, 2016, 86 min, Color

A Q&A session with the filmmakers follows the screening.

A drunken, train-wreck time traveler offers a suicidal barista a do-over with his life. There's just one catch …     

Great Lakes connection:

The film was made in Michigan by Michigan residents.

Cast & Crew:

Directors: Robert Cousineau, Chris Rosik
Writers: Joshua Cousineau, Robert Cousineau, Doug Kolbicz
Producer: James McGovern
Key Cast: Connor Sweeney, Claire Sloma, Phreddy Wischusen, Joshua Cousineau

Awards:

GenreBlast (Winchester, VA), Sept. 10, 2017, Best Soundtrack, Best Actor, Founders Award

Halloween International Film Festival (Outer Banks, NC), Oct. 28, 2017, Breakout Film Makers

Midwest Weirdfest (Eau Claire, WI), March 11, 2018, Best Screenplay

More Info:

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