The Film program is sponsored by ITA Software.

-- FRIDAY --

FRIDAY 4 PM
V for Vendetta -- FIRST SHOWING

Adapted from Allan Moore's graphic novel, this tells the story of a fascist government in a Britain of the future, and Evey Hammond's part in bringing it down with the help of the mysterious V. It's dark and shadowy, part 1984 and part Batman. Absolutely stunning visually.
In 35mm Cinemascope, 132 min

This feature will be preceded by the short subject Christmas/Barney/Easter, a set of three five-minute films involving a dystopian future described from a child's viewpoint. We dropped this from the schedule at the last minute last year when the print got misplaced but this year we're running it for sure.
In 16mm, 15 min.

FRIDAY 6:45 PM
The World, The Flesh, and the Devil

A 1960 Hugo Award Nominee, this movie shows a post-apocalyptic New York City with only three people remaining. Harry Belafonte's performance alone makes this a spectacular film. Seldom shown today because many perceive it as only an allegory about the sixties civil rights movement, it is really a film about social upheaval in general and how people behave when taken out of their familiar society. This was Belafonte's only SF film, and this showing may be your only chance to see it ever.
In 16mm B&W, 95 min.

Preceded by E.P.M., a short subject film exploring law enforcement technology in the not-so-distant future. This is more or less an example of Robocop technology, as adapted to a town like Mayberry.
In 16mm, 3 min.

FRIDAY 8:30 PM
Space Angel

A curious product of the early 1960s, this is an animated children's television show employing Synchro-Vox, a process in which live action lips were rotoscoped onto still drawings. The plotlines and the artwork both owed a lot to the pulp SF styles of the day and were quite advanced for a kid's show of that era. We'll be showing one half-hour episode at random from an original archive print. With a surprise.
46 min, 16mm Sakuracolor

FRIDAY 9:30 PM
MEN INTO SPACE: Flareup

Rushed into production as rapidly as possible after Sputnik, this CBS television series took place in spacecraft, space stations, a moonbase, and in various locations around the solar system, thanks to amazing matte artwork by Chesley Bonestell. It went on the air with technical assistance from military and scientific space organizations which later were merged to form NASA, making it probably the first serious hard science fiction show on television and certainly the first aimed at adults. The episode we show is from the Hugo-nominated second season, first airing 8/17/60, starring William Lundigan as Col. Edward McCauley, and Werner Klemperer playing a Russian major. The print is in magnificent shape and just looks fabulous.
In 16mm B&W (Eastman Direct MP). 28 min.

FRIDAY 10:00 PM
US Soviet Joint Space Mission

This is a 1974 film on the upcoming Apollo-Soyuz joint flight. Watch American astronauts trying to learn Russian while Marshall Titov visits Disneyland. We run this in memoriam for Vladimir Sergeevitch Syromatnikov, the designer of the docking systems, who died this past September.
In 16mm, approx 22 min.

FRIDAY 11:00 PM
Voyage Dans La Lune SILENT MOVIE

Astronomers in pointy hats visit the moon in a cannon-fired projectile loaded by bathing-suit-clad women. There they meet the unfriendly denizens of the moon and beat a hasty retreat. This 1902 film was made by Georges Melies and was the first special-effects-driven SF film ever made. It was widely pirated when first released. This short film will be presented with organ accompaniment by Gary McGath.
In 16mm, 15 min

Preceded by Mike Donahue's home movies of LACon IV with organ accompaniment.
In 16mm, Color by Magno, 4 min.

FRIDAY 11:30
THE TUNNEL

The Big Dig has nothing on these guys!

This British 1934 film, written by Curt Siodmak, details the building of the undersea tunnel between London and New York. It takes place in a world of the future, with television, transatlantic autogyros and radium drills, and is really quite beautifully photographed with some excellent effects. The print we are showing is of rather poor quality but as far as we can tell it is the only one in the US and comes from an archive collection. If you enjoyed Things to Come, you'll find this film heavier on the human interest and lighter on the philosophy but still with impressive futuristic technology. An Arisia exclusive.
In 16mm B&W, 69 min}

-- SATURDAY --

SATURDAY 9 AM:
Andromeda Strain

A probe sent to gather microorganisms from outer space is very successful, putting the entire world at risk. The Wildfire team is mobilized to investigate in this film by Michael Crichton. This is a classic from the days before Crichton started reworking his own material and is still remarkably relevant today. We have an archive print that is really quite magnificent-looking.
131 minutes, In 16mm Cinemascope

SATURDAY 11:30 AM
Battle of the Planets

Originally produced in 1972 as Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, this Japanese Anime program was re-edited for American consumption in 1978, with some additional footage added. It tells the story of five transmuting orphans and their guardian robot 7-Zark-7, fighting weekly against evil robot enemies sent by their nemesis, Zoltar. In this episode, Peaks of Planet Odin, they find themselves on a working vacation.
in 16mm, Color by Getty Film Labs, approx. 26 min

SATURDAY 12:00 AM
Flaming Ears

This 1992 Austrian underground film is a story of three women in a destroyed city in 2700, and was described at its premiere as an "Edgy cyberdyke fantasy." It's a story of pyromania, comic books, reptiles, and alien lovers, with many individual plot threads that come together only at the end. Or maybe not. You will not see this film shown anywhere else, and it is worth the viewing just for the edgy but perfectly-done setting. The San Francisco Weekly says, "Imagine the film that J.G. Ballard might have made if he'd been born an Austrian dyke."

In German with subtitles. In 16mm. 80 min.

SATURDAY 1:30 PM
V for Vendetta -- SECOND SHOWING

Adapted from Allan Moore's graphic novel, this tells the story of a fascist government in a Britain of the future, and Evey Hammond's part in bringing it down with the help of V. It's dark and shadowy, part 1984 and part Batman. Absolutely stunning visually.
In 35mm Cinemascope, 132 min

This feature will be preceded by the short subject

Christmas/Barney/Easter, a set of three five-minute films involving a dystopian future described from a child's viewpoint. We dropped this from the schedule at the last minute last year when the print got misplaced but this year we're running it for sure.
In 16mm, 15 min.

SATURDAY 4:00 PM
12 MONKEYS

Terry Gilliam's nightmarish story of a time traveller, sent back to stop a bioterrorist attack, who is sent back six years earlier than intended and isn't taken seriously. This is a very dense and compacted story with a lot going on in a short period of time. Every minute something important is happening. Time travel has become almost a cliche but this movie makes it new and unique.
In 35mm, 129 minutes.

Preceded by Star Trek Blooper Reel II. This isn't the usual blooper reel that I know of; it was created by Allan Greenfield at NBC from various bits and pieces, and it's sort of fragmentary in overall appearance. This is a little throwback to the sort of thing you might have seen in the film room thirty years back. Parts may not be suitable for children.
In 16mm, 6 min.

SATURDAY 11:30 PM or whenever masquerade ends
WARGAMES -- SPECIAL EXTRA-BAD MOVIE

Teenage cracker uses his IMSAI to start the atomic destruction of the world. The Legion of Doom describes this film as "Puerile and offensive to hackers." Richard Stallman says, "I don't get my kicks from that sort of movie." Absolutely devoid of any redeeming content or even a tiny vestige of technical accuracy, this film provides a little nostalgic glimpse of a more naive world. This movie is presented in conjunction with the Institute for Very Bad Cinema.
In 35mm, 114 min.

---- SUNDAY ----

SUNDAY 9:00 AM
THE TUNNEL

The Big Dig has nothing on these guys! This British 1934 film, written by Curt Siodmak, details the building of the undersea tunnel between London and New York. It takes place in a world of the future, with television, transatlantic autogyros and radium drills, and is really quite beautifully photographed with some excellent effects. The print we are showing is of rather poor quality but as far as we can tell it is the only one in the US and comes from an archive collection. If you enjoyed Things to Come, you'll find this film heavier on the human interest and lighter on the philosophy but still with impressive futuristic technology. An Arisia exclusive.
In 16mm B&W, 69 min

SUNDAY 10:30 AM
JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN

This 1969 live action film is written and produced by Gerry Anderson of Thunderbirds fame, and it has his trademark model effects. An international coalition of space scientists finds another planet orbiting the sun, and an expedition is formed to investigate. The effects and the plot are very sophisticated for 1969, and the ending is characteristically British. This film has not been shown in the US since its first release, and we have an amazing Technicolor print that has been in the archives for almost forty years. It is worth staying late at the con to see this film.
In 35mm Technicolor, 101 minutes.

Audience Choice 12:30 PM

We will run any of the films listed for this weekend. You must arrive promptly at 12:30 to cast your vote. Film will begin promptly at 12:45 after setup and preparation.