Directors' Statement 2010

On behalf of the entire festival team, we welcome you to the 2nd annual Fantastic Planet, Sydney Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival. The festival encompasses an amazing array of films (14 features and 40 shorts), Q&As with special guests, parties, a filmmaking forum, and a screenplay competition.

We are delighted with the quality and range of selections represented in this year's program - almost all of which are Australian premieres - and are confident that when you see what is on offer that you too will share our enthusiasm. Get ready to experience a dark twist on the Santa legend, machete-wielding vigilantes, an evil genius mad on love and bent on world annihilation, the latest film based on the works of P. K. Dick (writer of Blade Runner, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly), the best-worst movie ever made, out-of-this-world conspiracies, cyber-Shakespeare, a home-grown UFO documentary, Greek zombies, and more!

To everyone who supports the festival - from our sponsors and venues, through the media and our volunteers, to the filmmakers and festival audience - we offer our profound thanks.

Vive le Cinema Fantastique!

Dean Bertram PhD and Lisa Mitchell