Sydney based science fiction fans are in for a treat this month, with the fifth annual SciFi Film Festival running from the 18^th to the 21^st of October at the Event Cinemas complex in George St. Twenty-five films from eleven countries will screen, showcasing some of the most groundbreaking works of science fiction you’re likely to see this year.

Opening Night is going to kick off with Johann Lurf’s Star, in which the Austrian ‘constructuralist’ examines the portrayal of our star-scape and the great beyond across 100 years of cinematic history. Including footage from more than 550 films, Lurf’s mind-blowing reconceptualisation of the relationship between humanity, space and cinema provide a truly unique documentary experience.

It says something rather profound about the changing nature of our world that documentaries have such a significant position at this year’s SciFi Film Festival. Dutch filmmakers Femke Wolting and Tommy Pallotta dive deep into the rabbit-hole of artificial intelligence with their doco, More Human than Human, a fascinating exploration of the role of AI in our world, and the ways in which technology is likely to evolve and change absolutely everything. The future, it seems, is right here.

There are far too many exciting films screening to fully explore here, but there’s just about something for everybody in this year’s line-up. Gillian Anderson of X-Files fame returns to the genre 25 years after it all began with the Australian premiere of conspiracy-theory thriller, UFO. In the hilarious Welsh science-fiction comedy Canaries, New Year’s Eve revellers take on alien invaders. And in the Canadian space-western Prospect, a young woman and her father arrive on an alien moon with the intention of striking it rich.

Two incredible Aussie feature films are in the line-up this year. The first is the surreal and deeply confronting Reflections in the Dust, a combination of post-apocalyptic horror and docudrama that truly pushes the boundaries of cinema. The director will be on hand to present the film, which will be followed by a panel discussion with Fiona Williams, host of the hit podcast Eyes on Gilead and managing editor of SBS Movies.

The second Aussie feature is Adam Harris’s My Saga, a moving documentary about how a brain-tumour diagnosis drove him to dive deep into the world of Star Wars and the fans that love the series more than anything. Harris will be on hand for a chat with Marc Fennell, co-host of The Feed on SBS Viceland and presenter of ABC’s Download This Show podcast. A percentage of proceeds from this screening will support The Starlight Foundation.

And finally, closing night will feature a classic work of ‘80s nuclear paranoia, Steve De Jarnatt’s Miracle Mile, starring Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham and featuring a soundtrack by Tangerine Dream.

The 2018 SciFi Film Festival is on track to be a truly groundbreaking Sydney event, thanks to the efforts of its new program director Simon Foster, managing editor of Screen-Space and a veteran film industry journalist, broadcaster and commentator.

Visit the 2018 SciFi Film Festival website for the full program.