The Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival returns for its fifth year—and it’s going all out. From giant creature extravaganzas to mind-bending independent films, or just a plain love of a good genre tale spun on the cheap, there’s something for every type of sci-fi enthusiast. With more than 200 original and independent sci-fi and fantasy films from across the globe, Brooklyn is once again being converted into a wonderland for storytellers and film lovers everywhere.\
At its heart, the festival is about accessibility, diversity, and community—the kind of creative energy that’s quintessentially Brooklyn. Festival director and co-founder Michael Brown, who grew up in Windsor Terrace, sums it up best: the objective is to create a home for independent science fiction that everyone can come to. No gatekeeping, no snobbery—only passionate creators and curious fans uniting to celebrate new, fearless storytelling.
Monsters Take Manhattan
One of the biggest highlights this year is a full-on tribute to the Godzilla franchise and the kaiju genre that spawned it. The Godzilla Eras Tour stomps into the limelight with several screenings, panels, and even an interactive online adventure.
Japanese Sci-Fi Night at Greenpoint’s Stuart Cinema Cafe will have six of Tokyo’s Jimbocho Movie Fest’s best kaiju classics, while Kaiju Monster Night at Williamsburg’s Spectacle Theater guarantees a fun night of all things huge, raucous, and city-destroying.
For those who are never quite satisfied with massive monsters, the festival’s virtual experience also features a Kaiju Monster panel, the award-winning documentary The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga, and an immersive Godzilla Eras Tour presented on the festival site and app—a nostalgic tip of the hat to rubber suits and radioactive lizards.
Indie Energy, Brooklyn Style
But the festival is more than monster mayhem. There’s a full slate of community events, from a networking evening for indie filmmakers and fans to the highly anticipated Awards Night at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Downtown Brooklyn, followed by an afterparty at the always-offbeat House of Wax bar.
Another neighborhood hot spot is the Best of Brooklyn SciFi short film screening at Stuart Cinema, showcasing pieces from NYC filmmakers. The evening concludes with a live panel that delves into the creative process and honors the borough’s burgeoning sci-fi scene.
Sci-Fi, Anytime, Anywhere
For everyone listening in from beyond New York, the festival’s website provides a completely digital, sci-fi-filled experience. With an easy-to-use interface akin to Netflix, fans are able to stream movies, cast their votes, watch movies live with others, and participate in virtual panels. Notable highlights are a live screening of T.I.M. with director Spencer Brown and the Godzilla documentary with director Jonathan Bellés.
Also back is the festival’s inaugural series, The Sixth Borough—a crazy anthology that dishes up three trippy sci-fi shorts an episode. Imagine Twilight Zone merged with Black Mirror, but with unapologetic Brooklyn flair.
A Soundtrack for the Future
The festival even offers music fans something to cheer about with its Future Sounds of Brooklyn playlist, highlighting top soundtrack tracks from the year’s films and specially commissioned sci-fi-themed tracks by up-and-coming artists. Festival jurors will highlight their favorite musical recommendations, and submissions are still being accepted for musicians who want their work to be highlighted.
Festival director Michael Brown states that this year is the largest ever, and the crew continues to unveil new surprises up to opening night. With a full slate of programming, fully immersive digital content, and a celebration of everything from kaiju mayhem to innovative storytelling, the Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival is leaving its mark as New York’s go-to genre event—one monster smash, indie treasure, and viewing party at a time.