Hungry for aliens, A.I., terrifying futures, cyberpunk stories, and everything in between?
If so, grab your popcorn—Boston Science Fiction Film Festival’s 50th anniversary is here.
Davis Square will host the semicentennial celebration, starting this Wednesday, February 12, and running until Monday, February 17.
The fest, which is the longest-running genre festival in the United States, will feature a myriad of thrilling and chilling flicks and local premieres, guest filmmakers, exciting contests, and its beloved 24-hour movie marathon, which kicks off at noon on the 16th at Somerville Theatre.
According to Boston Sci-Fi, the festival lineup “includes 10 feature films—including a world premiere and three United States premieres—and seven stellar shorts programs.
Several films chosen for the event tap into the biggest tech story of the century—the rise of A.I. At the same time, the 2025 selections illuminate an essential aspect of humanity: the need for community and genuine connection.”
The opening day of the fest offers the shorts program LAPUTA, which evokes “bite-sized visions from the dark edges of humanity”. Following, there will be a screening of Clone Cops with co-scriptwriter Phillip Cordell and cinematographer Corey Allen.
To close out the evening, the Museum of Science will co-present Small Town Universe, an award-winning documentary about the search for alien life in a small West Virginia town. The documentary’s Emmy Award-nominated director, Katie Dellamaggiore, will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A. Other guests include Boston’s Museum of Science Director of Immersive Theaters and Programs, Dani LeBlanc and Planetarium Educator Talia Sepersky, as well as Harvard School of Astrophysics PhD candidate Claire Lamman.
After the film, at 9:30 P.M., The Burren will host an opening night party.
Throughout the week, Boston Sci-Fi will host several enthralling feature films, as well as some terrifying and thought-provoking shorts programs by local and international filmmakers. Some of these programs include ALTAIR, which tells “memorable tales of humans and non-humans alike”, and NIBIRU, which exposes its audience to shorts that analyze and center on “imminent threats”.
The Dutch, Oscar-nominated short film, I’m Not a Robot, will also screen at Boston Sci-Fi 50, as part of the ALTAIR program. The short presents the story of Lara, a Dutch music producer. While listening to music at work, a system update forces her to restart her laptop. The update presents her with a series of CAPTCHA tests—which she keeps failing, despite offering the machine correct answers. When she calls her office’s tech support, “the voice on the other end suggests that Lara can’t get through because she’s a robot, adding, ‘You wouldn’t be the first to find out this way.’”
Engaging panels will be held at the cozy, long-adored Davis Square comic and collectables shop, Comicazi, including Beyond SF50: The Uncertain Future of Film Festivals and How Stories Are Born: A Screenwriters’ Roundtable. These events will offer moviegoers opportunities to connect with visiting filmmakers and panelists.
Boston Sci-Fi will close out the fest with its famous marathon.
Head to the concessions counter to snag your drinks, candy, and popcorn before diving into 24 hours of featured science fiction flicks like Godzilla: Minus One, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Arrival, Her, and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner: Workprint Cut, which contains footage and music not included in other cuts of the 1982 classic.
The 50th year of the fest is also the last for beloved festival director and founder Garen Daly, who announced his retirement just two days ahead of the fest.
Daly—who has decades of experience in the industry—started his impassioned career in 1975. He has managed several Boston movie theaters, mentored and encouraged young film enthusiasts who were itching to be involved in local cinema, and is a staple of the Boston film scene.
We wish Garen the best of luck in his retirement—and thank him for his influence and tireless work in helping to shape the film community in Boston and beyond.
From eerie and impactful short films to titanic, classic, and iconic features, this year’s Boston Science Fiction Film Festival is bound to be the most thrilling yet.
For ticket information and to learn more about the 50th Boston Science Fiction Film Festival, click here.
