Dendy Cinemas - Special Event

FANTASTIC PLANET

Sydney Science Fiction & Fantasy Film Festival

Fantastic Planet will be showcasing an international program of bold, speculative genre films that explore other imagined worlds, universes, and realities: offering Sydney audiences celluloid visions of alternative futures, pasts, and presents.

Tickets

$15 Adults/$12 Seniors/$12 Concession

Closing Night $20 Adults/$15 Seniors/$15 Concession

The festival invades the screens of Dendy, Newtown Cinema, from October 30 to November 6, 2009. There are side-screenings, forums, and parties at other Sydney venues including: Metro Screen, Mu-Meson Archives, and Club 77.

For additional information visit the festival’s website: www.fantasticplanetfilmfestival.com

FANTASTIC PLANET PROGRAM 2009

Click on the film for more information

Date	Time	Film
Friday 30th October	7:00pm	Eraser Children OPENING NIGHT + Q&A
	9:00pm	Strigoi
Saturday 31st October	4:00pm	Shorts Program 1: Flights of Fantasy
	7:00pm	Zombieland SPECIAL HALLOWEEN SCREENING
	11.45pm	Infestation HALLOWEEN MIDNIGHT SCREENING
Sunday 1st November	4:00pm	Baron Prásil SPECIAL RETROSPECTIVE SCREENING
	7:00pm	Hero Tomorrow
Monday 2nd November	7:00pm	2B
Tuesday 3rd November	7:00pm	Cryptic
Thursday 5th November	7:00pm	Shorts Program 4: The Future Attacks! + Q&A
	9:00pm	Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf + Q&A
Friday 6th November	7:00pm	Franklyn CLOSING NIGHT AWARDS and AFTER PARTY

Program subject to change

Fantastic Planet is generously sponsored by: SCI-FI, International Film School Sydney, Crumpler, and Galaxy Bookshop.

ERASER CHILDREN

Friday 30th October, 7:00pm

WORLD PREMIERE - OPENING NIGHT - Q&A TO FOLLOW

Nathan Christoffel/90 mins/Australia/2009
Presented by Crumpler

Slavery looks good in a suit.

In a dystopia of useless products, pre-paid dreams, and a system of “violations” so invasive that if you laugh too loudly you will be fined, Misner Corporation has invented a new source of energy, generating a monopoly on all facets of human existence. The world is now a totalitarian global state ruled by one man. Anyone unwilling to work for Misner’s regime lives underground in a dark world of insane system “dropouts”. Finnegan Wright, a lower level worker at Misner Corp. is taken on an enthralling journey when one of these dropouts kidnaps Finnegan and tries to convince him to change the fate of the world by killing Misner.

Eraser Children is a compelling and visually arresting exploration of a macabre future. It is reminiscent of the very best in cinematic Dystopian satire from Metropolis through Fahrenheit 451 to Brazil. This world premiere screening is proudly presented by Crumpler

“Imagine Gilliam directing The Matrix meets 1984 by way of Max Headroom and you are near to the wonderful world of Misner and the Eraser Children.” SCI FI LONDON [UK]

Join us from 6:30pm in the Dendy foyer for a complimentary DRINK ON ARRIVAL

SPECIAL BONUS: Director Nathan Christoffel, cinematographer Adrian Kristoffersen, actor Shane Nagle and other members of the cast and crew will be at the screening to introduce their film and partake in a Q&A following the screening.

STRIGOI

Friday, 30th October 30, 9:00pm
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Faye Jackson/105mins/UK/2009
Winner: Best Independent Film, Toronto After Dark Film Festival

Strigoi is a vampire movie that defies categorization.

Shedding a fantastic light on a post-communist Romanian village, the film introduces us to an ancient myth: Strigoi, the belief that a person can rise again after death to seek justice if they’ve been wronged, their appetites intensified by their hunger for blood. A deeply human take on an old horror story, the darkly comic horror/fantasy film explores the old world versus the new and delves into the heart of modern Romania.

There are no beautiful, angst-ridden, teen vampires in this film. Instead, shot on location in the heart of real Dracula country, Strigoi tears away the glossy veneer of current Hollywood reimaginings of the vampire myth, and reintroduces us to the dark essence of the original undead legend. It is a must-see film for any true vampire fan.

Accompanied by the short film:
Initiation (Dir: Stéphane Beaudoin/23 mins/Canada)
Presented in association with: A Night of Horror International Film Festival

SHORTS PROGRAM 1: FLIGHTS OF FANTASY

Saturday, 31st October, 4:00pm

Travel to fantastic worlds with an assortment of the most breathtaking fantasy short films. Within this cinematic vista of mystical landscapes you'll encounter a host of strange and delightful characters: From dancing skeletons, malicious trolls, and teenage deer people, through a dark reimaging of Pinnochio, to reality-challenged super heroes and the Grim Reaper himself. This wonderful program is sure to delight the fantasy fan in everyone.

Death in the Garden Dir: Michael Chrisoulakis/11 mins/AUS
Hart Dir: Vanessa Williams/11 mins/UK
The Tree Man Dir: Navin Dev/8 mins/UK
Le Rescapé de l'Hippocampe Dir: Julien Lecat/12 mins/FRA
Aqua Ad Lavandum – Dir: Florian Metzner & Helge Balzer/16 mins/DEU
The Hollow Tree Dir: Patrick Steward/20 mins/USA
Without Dir: Brent Bishop & Gregory Tuzin/13 mins/USA
Imaginary Friend Practical Manual Dir: Ciro Altabas/19 mins/ESP
Capes Dir: Bryan Cohen /15 mins/USA

Special Bonus: Trivia DVD and magazine giveaways!

ZOMBIELAND

Saturday, 31st October, 7:00pm
HALLOWEEN SPECIAL SCREENING
Ruben Fleischer/80mins/USA/2009
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

Believe the buzz, this is the must see horror comedy of the decade! What better way to spend your Halloween than at this exclusive Australian premiere screening!

The no-holds barred action comedy Zombieland focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is a big wuss – but when you're afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) is an AK-totin’, zombie-slayin’ badass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

Dread Central: “The funniest zombie tale since Shaun of the Dead... Zombieland is a killer comedy with a vicious sense of humor. It’s the kind of movie where, halfway through, you’ll wish you already owned the DVD.”

Arrow in the Head: “I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun at the movies! Zombieland was amazing – the REAL DEAL!”

Fearnet: “A pitch-perfect example of how tasty the 'horror/comedy' combo can be... it just might be the best American comedy horror ever made.”

Presented in association with: A Night of Horror International Film Festival

Special Bonus: Come in Halloween fancy dress and receive a FREE horror DVD or magazine!

INFESTATION

Saturday, 31st October, 11:45pm
HALLOWEEN MIDNIGHT SCREENING
Kyle Rankin/93 mins/USA/2009
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

Shawn of the Dead meets Them! in this side-splitting, lightning-paced, balls-to-the-wall creature feature. The perfect way to enjoy the witching hour this Halloween.

Infestation starts at a full sprint and never slows down: the film's hero, Cooper, awakens to find himself nauseous, weak and covered in webbing, hanging from the ceiling of an office where, just minutes ago, he started his new job. As he struggles out of his slimy prison he comes face to face with his opponent - a grotesque, powerful and very angry bug. All 3 feet of it. And so begins a hideous, nail-biting, comedic, all-action adventure to find a safe haven while constantly outwitting an infestation of monstrous proportions. As Cooper embarks on his journey, he befriends a ragtag group of survivors including the feisty and attractive Sara. Although the situation is dire, Cooper can't help himself from trying to solve his dating problem while trying to save his life. Will they make it to safety before they are picked off one by one? And what other surprises are in store for our group of unlikely heroes?

Special Halloween Treat: Free horror or sci-fi DVD for each ticket buy

BARON PRASIL

Sunday, 1st November, 4:00pm
Karel Zeman/83 mins/Czech/1961
SPECIAL RETROSPECTIVE SCREENING

Australia's king and queen of repertory cinema - Jaimie and Aspasia Leonarder – present a special retrospective screening of this rare classic of the fantastic genre.

In making Baron Prásil, criminally under-known Czech film wizard Karel Zeman used all of his amazing mixed-media visual cinematic techniques. Merging, juxtaposing and overlapping live action, hand-drawn animation, stop-motion animation, models, matte paintings, woodcuts, life-size replicas, tinted colors and much more to bring the fantastic stories of Gottfried August Bürger's Baron Munchausen to the screen in a way never seen before or since; which was modeled partly after Gustave Doré's wonderful storybook-style drawings.

Milos Kopecký masterfully portrays the wild, imaginative, resourceful Baron Munchausen through a flowing fever dream of interconnected and unbelievable tall tales involving trips to the moon, absurd wars, ridiculous adventures, pop-art spacesuits, giant rubber fish, stop-frame owls, winged horses, changing colours, fantastic landscapes, sea ships, mermaids, castles, cannonballs, love, poetry and imagination; all harmoniously displayed in endlessly clever games of visual creativity.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to see Baron Prásil on the big screen in all of its psychedelic glory!

HERO TOMORROW

Sunday, 1st November, 7:00pm
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Ted Sikora/93 mins/USA/2008
Official Selection: Comic Con

A trippy comic shop romance, with a super hero twist!

David, a 24-year-old superhero junkie and hopeless comic book creator from Cleveland, tries to escape his boring landscaping job, overdue credit card bills and ever-growing sense of failure by smoking grass and hanging out with the eclectic regulars at Hero Tomorrow Comics. When Robyn, his aspiring fashion-designer girlfriend and shop employee, makes a Halloween costume of his original superhero character Apama, it doesn’t take David long to hit the streets and begin making his crime fighting dreams into her nightmare. What happens when a boy’s comic book fantasy collides with a girl’s dreams of high fashion and romance?

Hero Tomorrow is the darkly comic misadventures of a wannabe hero who blunders towards disaster and the girl who loves him. It’s an art house superhero romance that has been described by Chris Yambar of Mr. Beat and Bart Simpson comic book fame as “fashionably tragic, obsessively romantic, authentically hip, and perfectly twisted in all the right places.”

Accompanied by two fantastic super hero shorts:
Ubermensch Dir: Simon Temple/15 mins/AUS
Deadboy’s Date Dir: Lowel Dean/10 mins/CAN

2B

Monday, 2nd November, 7:00pm
INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
Richard Kroehling/90mins/2009/USA

The Era of Flesh is Over.

New York, soon. Technology?s exponential growth is fast and furious. Human life is in the process of being transformed. Mankind stands on the verge of re-engineering its biology, merging with the incredibly intelligent machines it has created. The beautiful Mia 2.0 - the world?s first “Transbeman” - and her inventor, the brilliant Dr. Tom Mortlake, commit a shocking crime in full view of the world media to make the bold political statement: Human reliance on the fragile flesh body is over and “eternal life” is at hand.

The question facing the world now is: Would you die to live forever?

The “techno-human” conundrum is arguably the hottest and most controversial topic of this century. This breathtaking film is based upon real science and evolving technologies. It is entertainment designed to jump-start the conversation about the moral and religious questions raised by the bio-tech revolution. The result is as as confronting as it is mesmerising.

Accompanied by the short films:

Lay Me Down Dir: Shinako Sudo/14 mins /Japan,USA
Simulacrum® Dir: Logan Brown/12 mins /USA

Special Bonus: Trivia DVD and magazine giveaways at the screening!

Cryptic

Tuesday, 3rd November, 7:00pm
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Danny Kuchuck & John Weiner/83 mins/USA/2008
Official selection Fantasia Film Festival

What if you called your old phone number... And your younger self answered?

This is the dilemna facing Jessie Grave, a bored, beautiful and rebellious eighteen-year-old. As she tries to discover who killed her mother years before, Jessie discovers she has the power to talk to her younger self, in the past. Part ghost story, part time-travel murder mystery, Cryptic is a brilliantly scripted sci-fi thriller, which is flawlessy realised through Kuchuck & Weiner's tight direction and strong performances from the memorable cast. While constantly twisting and turning, with a plot full of puzzles and surprises, the film never loses sight of the characters at its heart.

Cryptic has been tearing up the international film festival circuit and we are proud to present the Australian premiere at Fantastic Planet.

“Cryptic outthinks movies like Primer & Timecrimes by a mile! Whereas those two don't add up if you look too closely, Cryptic is like being run through a complex math equation and feeling the elation as it's solved right before your eyes! This is a precise, exhilarating piece of work that seems to send the brain to new places.” – Whitney Ransick (Director: ER; Smallville; Supernatural)

Accompanied by the short films:
A Treatise on the Nature of Friendship Dir: David Fishel / 8 mins / USA
Hirsute Dir: A. J. Bond / 14 mins / Canada

Special bonus: Trivia DVD and magazine giveaways at the screening!

Shorts Program 4: The Future Attacks!

Thursday, 5th November, 7:00pm

Tremble at alien invasions!
Gasp at strange new cyber-realities!
Laugh at heroically deluded 1950s spacemen!
But whatever you do, don't miss this fatastic line-up of the world's very best science fiction short films!

Spaceman on Earth Dir: Shant Hamassian/22 mins/USA
Burden Dir: Michael David Lynch/10 mins/USA
Marooned? Dir: Ryan Nagata/14 mins/USA
Intoxicant Dir: John Hsu/26 mins/Taiwan
The Attack of the Robots from Nebula-5 Dir: Chema García Ibarra/6 mins/Spain
The Un-Gone Dir: Simon Bovey/12 mins/UK
Oxygen Dir: David Norris/24 mins/AUS

Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf

Thursday, 5th November, 9:00pm
Kurando Mitsutake/92 min/Japan/USA/2009
WINNER: “Best of Festival” Indie Fest USA
Presented by International Film School Sydney

Get ready to experience one of the hottest action films of the decade - presented by the film's director!

Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf manages to be a dead-on homage to 70's action exploitation cinema, while simultaneously catapulting the genre to pulse-charging new heights. Imagine Kill Bill on steroids, and you might come close to an approximation of this pulse-charging film.

Samurai Avenger follows a blind man who seeks revenge against the psychopath who took away his sight and slaughtered his wife and daughter. Eight years after the massacre, the man has returned, now a highly trained samurai swordsman ready to seek justice. But he doesn't know that seven deadly assassins hired by his sworn enemy await... each one wanting the bounty on his head.

This bloody modern day fable is a kick-ass hybrid action film with a classic samurai essence and a spaghetti western spirit. This is “Sushi Western”!

Special Bonus: Thanks to festival sponsor - the International Film School Sydney – a Q&A with writer/director/star Kurando Mitsutake will follow the screening.

FRANKLYN

Friday, 6th November, 7:00pm
CLOSING NIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Gerald McMorrow / 98 mins / France/ UK / 2008

Part steampunk fantasy, part super-hero adventure, part love story, Franklyn takes you on a unique cinematic journey to a place where fantasy and reality blur.

Starring Ryan Phillippe (Cruel Intentions, Flags of our Fathers), Eva Green (Casino Royale) and Sam Riley (Control), the film is set between the parallel worlds of contemporary London and the futuristic faith dominated metropolis of Meanwhile City. Weaving a tale of four souls, whose lives are intertwined by fate, romance and tragedy, these two worlds collide and a single bullet determines the destiny of these four characters.

Special Bonus: Join us for a complimentary drink on arrival from 6:30pm in the Dendy foyer.

Followed by Awards Ceremony and After Party.