Cinema Obscura

Cannes? More like Cannes't. TIFF? PIFF! The Minicon Film Room is where it's at!

Film Room

We regret to inform you that we will not be able to show The Darkest Matter. Due to changing circumstances, the film is no longer available for screening. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Minicon's film room, Cinema Obscura, will be back again this year. To tie in with the Pirates and Airships theme, we will screen the Australian short film, Aurora, and episodes of the Missouri-based webseries Dirigible Days. Episodes of the political SF webseries, Pioneer One, are also planned. In addition, Minicon has received permission to screen The Ackermonster Chronicles!, a documentary on SF legend, Forry Ackerman. Anime will return. And something new for this year …fan films! So far, we are planning on screening shorts influenced by the Harry Potter novels, the Harry Dresden novels, the Skyrim video game, DC Comics characters Supergirl and Batman, among others. Cinema Obscura is planned to be open Thursday evening to early Sunday afternoon.

Film Schedule

Click on the film title to see more information about it. This schedule should be considered tentative. Some of the films listed here may not be shown during the convention due to unforseen circumstances.

Thursday, April 17th

8:00pm - 9:30pm
Vessel
9:30pm - 11:00pm
Pioneer One - part 1 of 2

Friday, April 18th

4:30pm - 7:00pm
Pioneer One - part 2 of 2
8:00pm - 9:45pm
The Ghastly Love of Johnny X
9:45pm - 11:00pm
Audience Choice. Want to see something that you missed or might not be able to see according to your schedulle? Screenings shown by audience request.

Saturday, April 19th

10:00am - 12:00pm
Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Fan Film Block 1
2:00pm - 4:00pm
The Ackermonster Chronicles!
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Frankenstein's Monster
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Shorts Block 1
8:00pm - 9:00pm
Fan Film Block 2
9:00pm - 10:00pm
Shorts Block 1
10:00pm - 11:00pm
Audience Choice. Want to see something that you missed or might not be able to see according to your schedulle? Screenings shown by audience request.

Sunday, April 20th

10:00am - 12:00pm
Wolf Children
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Night Light
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Audience Choice. Want to see something that you missed or might not be able to see according to your schedulle? Screenings shown by audience request.

Film List

Here is an alphabetical listing of the films for which Minicon has received screening permission. Please note: It is by no means a final listing, and some of the films here may not been shown during the convention due to technical difficulties or unforeseen circumstances.

  • The Ackermonster Chronicles! (2012) Trailer
    A biographical documentary on Forrest J. Ackerman, possibly the greatest fanboy in science fiction. Some of the last interviews with Ackerman are here, along with tributes from Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, John Landis, and others (Length: 105 minutes).

  • Airfoiled (2010) Trailer: Trailer
    Two visionary brothers set off on a whirlwind adventure to invent a darn-fool flying contraption. A short film from filmmaker Michael Matzur, the creator of the science fiction space drama, Vacuity, screened at Minicon 48 (Length: 8:31 minutes).

  • Aurora (2011) Trailer
    After his wife is kidnapped by a group of slave traders, Emerson Marks, captain of the airship Aurora, must fight against all odds in order to rescue her. An Australian short film tying in to this year's Minicon theme of Pirates and Airships (Length: 33:56 minutes).

  • Batman: Puppet Master (2012)
    Gotham's newest crime boss, a mysterious figure known as Scarface, has a meeting with Edward Nigma, who has sworn to bring down Batman at all costs. Batman and its characters are owned by DC Comics and Warner Brothers Studios. This fan film project is a non-profit, non-commercial fiction and is not endorsed or affiliated with DC Comics or Warner Brothers Studios (Length: 15:18 minutes).

  • Controller (2013)
    From Taiwan comes this short film where a girl that can control everything, perpetrates her own rescue by taking control of her boyfriend (Length: 8:22 minutes).

  • Cosplay Piano (2013)
    A webseries featuring 19-year old Russian pianist, Sonya Belousova, as she plays themes from pop-culture movies and television shows while dressed in cosplay costumes (Length: 12:41 minutes).

  • Dirigible Days (2012) Trailer
    From Missouri filmmakers Gary & Julie Lobstein comes this award-winning web series about Captain Santaigo Dunbar and the crew of the airship S.S. Beatrix. Ideal for fans of 19th century weaponry, fashions, and transportation, as well as Jules Verne and H.P. Lovecraft, and a tie-in to this year's Minicon theme of Pirates and Airships (Length: 53 minutes).

  • Frankenstein's Monster (2013) Trailer
    Imagine if Frankenstein's Monster came to life by steam. In this low-budget, steampunk adaptation of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's classic novel, Victor Frankenstein hopes to escape judgment for his actions and return to a peaceful life. He soon discovers that all secrets have their price (Length: 110 minutes).

  • The Ghastly Love of Johnny X (2012) Trailer
    Johnny X and his gang of extraterrestrial juvenile delinquents are sentenced to the worst possible punishment: Earth. Once on our planet, the nogoodniks get embroiled in a wacky scheme involving a femme fatale, a shady concert promoter, and a recently deceased musician who won't let a little thing like death stop him from rocking and rolling. This film features cameos by Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) and Paul Williams (Phantom of the Paradise) (Length: 106 minutes).

  • Grave Watcher (2013)
    Early one morning, Bob is late coming back from a night on the town, making Harry go out and find him. But Bob's former owners might be looking for Bob as well, and just might take out Harry to get him. Even then, Harry can never be sure who ELSE is watching him… A fan film based on The Dresden Files novels by Jim Butcher. The Dresden Files novels are copyrighted to Jim Butcher. This fan film project is a non-profit, non-commercial fiction (Length: 13:47 minutes).

  • The Greater Good (2013) Trailer
    In this prequel to the J.K. Rowling novels, young Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald have a falling out in their friendship. The Harry Potter novels are copyrighted to J.K. Rowling. This fan film project is a non-profit, non-commercial fiction (Length: 17:11 minutes).

  • HELL NO: The Sensible Horror Film (2013)
    A fan film on horror films, where the characters don't act incredibly stupid (Length: 3:23 minutes).

  • The Missouri Strain (2013) Trailer
    A family threatened by a nationwide biological apocalypse flees everyday city life to survive (Length: 22 minutes).

  • Möbius (2011)
    A photojournalist stumbles upon a cartel execution and supernatural events in the forbidden "Zone of Silence" in Mexico (Length: 11:18 minutes).

  • Night Light (2013) Trailer
    A fan film based on The Dresden Files novels by Jim Butcher. Chicago's minor magical practitioners become targets of abuse, causing the city's only professional wizard to investigate. The Dresden Files novels are copyrighted to Jim Butcher. This fan film project is a non-profit, non-commercial fiction (Length: 55:54 minutes).

  • Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (2012) Trailer
    Haruka is on a mission to find her mirror — a precious childhood gift from her mother that mysteriously disappeared. She discovers a mystical world where toys and treasures go when their owners neglect them. This anime narrative is rated G (Length: 100 minutes).

  • Pilgrim of Eternity (2013)
    Episode 1 of the web series Star Trek Continues. In this unofficial sequel to the Star Trek: TOS episode, "Who Mourns for Adonais?", Apollo returns to wreck havoc with Captain Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Star Trek and its characters are owned by Paramount Studios. This fan film project is a non-profit, non-commercial fiction and is not endorsed or affiliated with DC Comics or Paramount Studios (Length: 51:18 minutes).

  • Pioneer One (2010) Trailer
    A political web series with a science fictional bent. A mysterious spaceship has entered Earth's atmosphere. A US Department of Homeland Security investigation has uncovered a live human being in a Soviet space suit in an unstable condition. A note in Russian, found at the crash site, claims the man is the child of cosmonauts living at a base on Mars (Length: 220 minutes).

  • Riddle of the Mask (2013) Trailer
    A tension-filled dialogue between Edward Nigma (aka The Riddler) and Helena Bertinelli (aka The Huntress) about the identity behind Batman's mask. Batman and its characters are owned by DC Comics and Warner Brothers Studios. This fan film project is a non-profit, non-commercial fiction and is not endorsed or affiliated with DC Comics or Warner Brothers Studios (Length: 15:05 minutes).

  • Strega: Unbound (2013) Trailer
    It's World War II, and Professor Eidelberg is being forced by a secret Nazi cult to steal an ancient manuscript. But dealing with forbidden knowledge comes at a price. A pulpy, film noir short film that is heavily influenced by H.P. Lovecraft and based on a character from Dirigible Days (Length: 11:31 minutes).

  • The Skyrim Parodies (2013) Trailer
    A webseries based on the Skyrim video game. (Length: 20 minutes).

  • Star Wars Speed Dating
    Drop in on a speed dating event at Mos Eisley Cantina. Who would you date? Princess Leia? Darth Vader? Luke Skywalker? This fan film is a non-profit project (Length: 5:06 minutes).

  • Supergirl: Stranger in a Strange Land (2013) Trailer Kara travels from Krypton to Earth to observe and protect Kal-el until he reaches the age of maturity, but uncontrollable events cause a delay in her arrival. Supergirl and related characters are owned by DC Comics and TriStar Pictures. This fan film project is a non-profit, non-commercial fiction and is not endorsed or affiliated with DC Comics or TriStar Pictures (Length: 15 minutes).

  • Superhero Speed Dating
    Think dating a superhero would be amazing? Think again. This fan film is a non-profit project (Length: 3:39 minutes).

  • Supervillain Speed Dating
    Even Supervillains need a little love from time to time. Which one would you date? This fan film is a non-profit project (Length: 3:36 minutes).

  • Undying Love (2012) Trailer
    Rebecca and David hit a few roadblocks at the altar in this comedy about love, commitment and the undead zombie clause of marriage vows. Winner of the 2013 Geekie Award in the Best Short Film category (Length: 10 minutes).

  • Vessel (2013) Trailer
    Ash is a kind of psychic, who can communicate with extraterrestrials through visions that come into his mind without warning. This had lead to the disintegration of his body and mind, as well as an inability to maintain healthy relationships with friends and lovers, who think he is a drug addict. Winner for Best Science Fiction Feature at the 2013 Philip K. Dick Film Festival (Length: 86 minutes).

  • Wolf Children (2012) Trailer
    Hana falls in love with a Wolf Man. After the Wolf Man's death, Hana decides to move to a rural town to continue raising her two wolf children Ame and Yuki. This anime narrative is rated PG (Length: 117 minutes).