The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival has announced the award winners of its fourth annual event which took place from January 14-17, 2016. Among the festival’s extraordinary 80 film lineup, twelve films rose as shining examples of independent cinema enriched with distinctive styles, daring narratives, stunning visuals and powerhouse performances all culminating into a thrilling experience for the science fiction genre’s legions of fans.
Festival founder and director Daniel Abella presented the coveted honors to filmmakers for their superb achievement. This year the festival welcomed three award-winning and highly respected individuals to its judging board including scientist and science fiction writer David Brin; science fiction writer, media personality and professor Paul Levinson and science fiction editor and administrator of the Philip K. Dick Award, David G. Hartwell, a colleague and editor of the late author. On opening night, Hartwell commented on the festival’s mission to serve as a platform in providing sensational independent films in honor of Philip K. Dick. “He was an impressive man,” said Hartwell. “The idea of a festival devoted to him would have astonished him.”
The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival congratulates the 2016 award winners:
Best Philip K. Dick Feature:
The Incident (2015) directed by Isaac Ezban
Best Science Fiction Feature:
Counter Clockwise (2015) directed by George Moïse
Best Horror/Supernatural Feature:
Chatter (2015) directed by Matthew Solomon
Best Documentary:
Travis: The Travis Walton Story (2015) directed by Jennifer Stein
Best Web Series:
Milgram And The Fastwalkers (2015) directed by Richard Cutting
Best Philip K. Dick Short:
Chronos (2015) directed by Martin Kazimir
Best Horror/Supernatural Short:
The Mill at Calder’s End (2015) directed by Kevin McTurk
Best African American, Latino and Any Other Person of Color Science Fiction Film:
The Art of Human Salvage (2015) directed by Dempsey Tillman
Best Singularity, Eschaton and Beyond:
Enfilade (2014) directed by David Coyle
Best Animation:
The Looking Planet (2014) directed by Eric Law Anderson
Best New Media:
Californium (2015) designed by Noam Roubah
Best Trailer:
Caihong City (2015) directed by Florina Titz
The four-day festival screened at Village East Cinema (181-189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003) with several events at Lovecraft Bar NYC (50 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009) including a pre-reception on January 13. The night headlined a special Skype conversation with Blade Runner actress Joanna Cassidy and the world premiere of the Golden Globe Award winner’s short film What Might Have Been: Snake Dance (2012).
While speaking about her decision to create a never-filmed scene from the popular movie, the actress recalled reading Philip K. Dick’s original book. “When I got married when I was 18-years-old and I was driving across the country with my then husband, we both loved science fiction and we had a stack of the old paperback books,” she said. “And one of them was Philip K. Dick’s book [Do Android’s Dream of Electric Sheep?] and I’m reading this book going ‘This is incredible. They have to make a movie about this. This is amazing.’ And look what happened.”
About The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival:
The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival is New York City’s first and only festival of its kind and is organized by individuals and filmmakers who understand the difficulties and challenges of telling a unique story in a corporate environment. With successful 2012-2015 festivals, international festivals in Lille, France (2013, 2015) and Łódź, Poland (2015) and numerous event screenings the festival is only beginning its vision of honoring the legacy of the great Philip K. Dick. The festival has received media attention from The New York Times, CBS New York, The New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, Discover Magazine, Time Out New York, Gothamist, Metro New York, Chelsea Now, The Villager, East Villager, Downtown Express, MassLive.com, DNA Info, Flavorpill, Broadway World, Fangoria, Examiner and a January 13, 2015 primetime segment on NBC New York/COZI TV’s News 4 New York at 7 with anchor Roseanne Colletti (viewed at nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/288485941.html). From organizers, programmers, directors, writers, producers and industry professionals who best represent the goals of the festival to the original voices and enhanced visions in works submitted, this is a festival created for filmmakers by filmmakers.
About The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival Sponsors:
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About Philip K. Dick:
“Reality is whatever refuses to go away when I stop believing in it.” – Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick (1928-1982) was one of the 20th century’s most profound novelists and writers within the science fiction community. His exploration, analysis and beliefs led to the publishings of 44 novels and 121 short stories. Dick’s enormous library of works led to several film and television adaptations including Blade Runner (1982), Total Recall (1990), Minority Report (2002), Paycheck (2003) A Scanner Darkly (2006), Radio Free Albemuth (2010), The Adjustment Bureau (2011), Total Recall (2012), FOX’s Minority Report (2015) and Amazon’s critically acclaimed series The Man in the High Castle (2015). Dick’s enormously effective views comprised of fictional universes, virtual realities, dystopian worlds and human mutation foresaw a sensational version of the current state of government and contemporary life. Though he is gone in the physical form his philosophies live on in the techniques applied to modern narratives, films and ideals and generate large displays of appreciation and understanding.
Connect:
Website: thephilipkdickfilmfestival.com
Twitter: twitter.com/PhilipKDickFest (tweet the hashtag #PKDFestNYC)
Facebook: facebook.com/ThePhilipKDickFilmFestival
Meetup: meetup.com/The-Philip-K-Dick-science-fiction-Film-Festival
