Sometimes, the stars line up.
If you’ve glanced at the news lately, you’ll know that one of the most perplexing stories of the year so far is the numerous unidentified flying objects shot down over the northern US and Canada over the past several days. Sure, the rational voice in your head is telling you that they’re just more foreign spy balloons– but what if they aren’t? Could this really be the alien invasion we’ve been promised since the atomic age? Will monstrous tripods enslave humanity, only to be taken down by the common cold? Will a troop of cackling, fleshy-brained Martians gleefully wipe out Congress? (Hey, we can dream, right?) Will a soft-spoken messiah from another world urge us toward nuclear disarmament?
Or what if– just maybe– it’s all a promotional stunt for one of the most beloved science fiction events in the country?
Longtime readers of the Hassle know we’re big fans of the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival. Now in its 48th year, Boston Sci-Fi is the longest-running genre film festival in the country, from its early days in Central Square’s late, lamented Orson Welles Cinema to its current home at the Somerville Theatre. As usual, the fest brings a mix of new and repertory titles, a bevy of short films, and a number of visiting guests, both in-person and online. Per tradition, it all leads up to a legendary 24-hour movie marathon in the Somerville’s sprawling main hall– which, for the first time, the Hassle is proud to sponsor!
Perhaps fittingly for these strange times, time travel is a central theme of the fest. The opening night feature, Doctor Who Am I, is a documentary about the ill-fated attempt to adapt Doctor Who for American audiences in the ‘90s (Eric Roberts as The Master!). Following that, attendees can head upstairs to the Somerville’s newly renovated Crystal Ballroom for the inaugural Time Travelers’ Ball, a Doctor Who-themed party featuring a costume contest, signature Timelord cocktails, and an actual (working?) TARDIS. And time travel will feature prominently into several of the features in the marathon. In preparation, I sat in on the Boston Scifi Presents podcast with festival director Garen Daly and fellow critic Ed Symkus and chatted about paradoxes, the eerie prescience of the Martian colony of Total Recall, and our craziest time travel dreams. (You can listen to Boston Scifi Presents wherever you get your podcasts, or you can watch the episode in the YouTube video below).
Of course, the ‘Thon is only the grand finale of the festival. Over the course of five days, you’ll be able to catch a number of brand new features (including the world premiere of Janet Grillo’s The Warm Season and the US premiere of the heartwarming Japanese feature Single8) and no fewer than four separate shorts programs. There will also be panels and talks with a number of special guests, including craftspeople and editors who have worked on everything from Star Wars to Avatar, as well as the great Duwayne Dunham, editor of some of David Lynch’s best-loved works (and director of several key episodes of Twin Peaks). Perhaps most intriguingly, the fest will host a live round of Isaac Asimov’s Robots, a vintage VCR board game from 1988 which has been lovingly tailored into an interactive big-screen event. Seriously, watch this and try not to get excited:
In keeping with the times, the Fest has also added a full slate of virtual screenings and events to complement the in-house programming. Through the festival’s online portal, you’ll be able to watch an equally amazing schedule of features (including Single8 and Hassle favorite All Jacked Up and Full of Worms), virtual panels, and even an at-home marathon of vintage nuggets ranging from John Sayles’ offbeat cult classic Brother from Another Planet to the ‘50s proto-gore shockers The Brain that Wouldn’t Die and Fiend Without a Face.
Keep watching the skies– or, failing that, more movies than you know what to do with.
The Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival runs from Wednesday, 2/15 through Monday, 2/20 @ Somerville Theatre (and virtually) – click here for showtimes and ticket/pass info!
