Smash Cuts! Super Sci-Fi Shorts Fest

Host Scott Forrest presents a curated compilation of eight independent short films in this rapid-fire science-fiction feature. Genres collide, narratives twist, aesthetics clash, and even humor, both campy and dystopian, showcase the vast creative possibilities of each story's individual world, offering the viewer a brief glimpse into the lives of every character's attempt to survive the otherworldly chaos around them. Released in 2001, the selected shorts span original creation dates of 1997 to 2001; most of the featured filmmakers also appear as themselves in short video interviews to talk about their inspirations, creative process and motivations while working on their individual shorts.

Dark Star

A group of scientists are sent on a mission to destroy unstable planets. Twenty years into their mission, they have to battle their alien mascot as well as a "sensitive" and intelligent bombing device that starts to question the meaning of its existence.

Short Circuit

After a lightning bolt zaps a robot named Number 5, the lovable machine starts to think he's human and escapes the lab. Hot on his trail is his designer, Newton, who hopes to get to Number 5 before the military does. In the meantime, a spunky animal lover mistakes the robot for an alien and takes him in, teaching her new guest about life on Earth.

Not Another Toy Story

When a young girl's fascination with her new tablet threatens to discard her beloved toys, a group of plastic figures must unite against the malevolent, digital entity that is stealing their owner's attention, leading to a desperate, violent battle for survival and relevance.

Дедмобиль

Valera, a flawless driver with 30 years behind the wheel, loses his job just as his dog Lincoln needs an expensive lifesaving surgery. Desperate for income, he’s approached by a sleek, AI-powered self-driving taxi. To avoid spooking passengers, the car asks Valera to pretend to be its driver and help it achieve a top user rating — in exchange for all the earnings from their rides. For Valera, it’s his dog’s only chance; for the taxi, it’s a fight for its own survival.

AI I, A.I. YOU

Sundanese who has advanced technology, namely augmented intelligence named Indri. Until Cecep felt bored with Indri because what he said was always the same until a power outage occurred in Cecep's village Indri reset and forgot about Cecep.

The Doll

The misadventures of an effete young man who must get married in order to inherit a fortune. He opts to purchase a remarkably lifelike doll and marry it instead, not realizing that the doll is actually the dollmaker’s flesh-and-blood daughter in disguise.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Marcus, a customer service agent whose job is to help anyone with anything with the aid of Assist-O, a hyper-efficient AI assistant. When the tasks become increasingly bizarre and Assist-O starts taking things too far, Marcus struggles to maintain control, revealing the chaos and absurdity lurking behind the promise of perfect service.

I Want To Be Boss

Dongnan, a 58-year-old restaurant employee, has long been known for his slacking off and unreliability, which led to his demotion to a security guard. Struggling with stagnant career prospects and family tensions, he dreams of becoming his own boss. With his friend Douyin Jie's help, Dongnan opens a restaurant and experiences initial success. Seeking to improve his home life, he purchases an AI robot that helps manage household chores and mediates family conflicts. However, his apprentice Steven betrays him by stealing secret recipes and using AI technology against him. Through a challenging journey of intense competition and personal crisis, Dongnan undergoes a transformative experience that forces him to confront his past behaviors and relationships.

Klara and the Sun

When Klara, an Artificial Friend who wants nothing more than to find the perfect home, meets Josie, each immediately senses a kindred spirit in the other. Josie has a fraught relationship with her mother and they've suffered great loss, but Klara's innocent wonder and unwavering loyalty begin to heal the family and bring light to Josie's complicated world.

AI Jesus

A small church in Florida receives an AI designed to look and act like Jesus Christ. Initially, the well-intentioned congregation welcomes the AI with open arms but soon begins to question humanity's identity and the need for meaning.

Lieven Scheire: AI

In this show, Lieven Scheire introduces this new superhero of technology in an entertaining and accessible way. You'll get a glimpse of how it all works, what it can already do, and what it will be capable of in the future.

Don't Look Up

Two astronomers go on a media tour to warn humankind of a planet-killing comet hurtling toward Earth. The response from a distracted world: Meh.

Deepfaking Sam Altman

Director Adam Bhala Lough sets out to better understand the technology and people at the center of the AI boom. His quest sends him on a path towards the father of AI, OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman. When he isn’t able to sit down with Altman himself, Adam travels to India to create an AI version of him to interview instead.

The lump

Nemias, a young hypochondriac, is abruptly awakened in the middle of the night by Nexus, his virtual assistant. When he notices a strange lump on his hand, he turns to the AI for help—completely unaware of the consequences that await.

Cool Cat Topia - Kids' Paradise

The second kids' AI feature film in history! Every Cool Cat book, animated by AI. Also, for some reason Derek Savage left his audience to publicly pitch names for the film to him in a YouTube comments section, hence all the alternative titles.

PSIBOT

Scrap

"SCRAP" follows the story of Peter, a selfish harbor worker, who is prevented from committing a desperate act by the AI of his ex-wife's car. As the car becomes more self-aware than Peter, he is forced to reconsider his way of thinking.

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over

Carmen's caught in a virtual reality game designed by the Kids' new nemesis, the Toymaker. It's up to Juni to save his sister, and ultimately the world.

Akihabara@DEEP

Set in Tokyo's otaku mecca Akihabara, "Akihabara@DEEP" tells the story of five otaku who drop out of society and end up founding their own successful IT venture called Crook. But Nakagomi, president of an influential electronics company called Digital Capital, will do anything to get his hands on Crook.

Thunderstruck

After NBA star Kevin Durant switches talent with 16 year old Brian, the teenager becomes the star of his high school team, but Durant starts struggling and eventually learns an important lesson.

Fun with Dick and Jane

When an upwardly mobile couple find themselves unemployed and in debt, they turn to armed robbery in desperation.

Much Ado About Nothing

A modern retelling of Shakespeare's classic comedy about two pairs of lovers with different takes on romance and a way with words.

The Three Stooges

Left on the doorstep of an orphanage run by nuns, three newborn knuckleheads grow up to be finger-poking, nyuk-nyuking janitors named Larry, Curly and Moe. When they learn that financial problems will soon force the only home they've ever known to close, the trio sets out to raise $830,000 in one month. Out in the world for the very first time, the three innocent bumblers become embroiled in a murder plot and find stardom on a TV reality show.

Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger

An HBO special edited from three performances from Chris Rock's 2008 comedy tour: London (dark suit, dark shirt), Johannesburg (black suit, white shirt) and New York (shiny jacket). Topics include the ongoing presidential campaign, the possibility of a black president, George W. Bush, gas prices, low-paid jobs, ringtones and bottled water, sex, relationships and the correct use of the n-word

Little Big League

When the owner of the Minnesota Twins passes away, he bequeaths the team to his preteen grandson. The newly minted head honcho quickly appoints himself manager, causing unrest in an organization that struggles to take orders from a 12-year-old.

Mr. Bones

A medicine man is sent looking for the son of his tribal king, and brings back an American golfer and a host of goons intent on keeping him in the golf tournament.

Robot & Frank

Curmudgeonly old Frank lives by himself. His routine involves daily visits to his local library, where he has a twinkle in his eye for the librarian. His grown children are concerned about their father’s well-being and buy him a caretaker robot. Initially resistant to the idea, Frank soon appreciates the benefits of robotic support – like nutritious meals and a clean house – and eventually begins to treat his robot like a true companion. With his robot’s assistance, Frank’s passion for his old, unlawful profession is reignited, for better or worse.

Simpsley

When penniless con-artist Marge Bouvier is sent to Italy to convince wealthy sap Seymour Skinner to come home, she’s tempted by the trappings of his affluent lifestyle. But there’s a big fat fly in the ointment: Skinner’s clingy, dim-witted mooch of a houseguest, Homer Simpsley. Lies, lust and Italian lira are abound.

LaRoy, Texas

Broke and depressed, Ray is mistaken for a dangerous hitman and given an envelope of cash. Along with his P.I. friend Skip, he must escape the actual hitman to make it out of LaRoy alive.

The Million Pound Note

An impoverished American sailor is fortunate enough to be passing the house of two rich gentlemen who have conceived the crazy idea of distributing a note worth one million pounds. The sailor finds that whenever he tries to use the note to buy something, people treat him like a king and let him have whatever he likes for free. Ultimately, the money proves to be more troublesome than it is worth when it almost costs him his dignity and the woman he loves.

Impractical Jokers: The Movie

The story of a humiliating high school mishap from 1992 that sends the Impractical Jokers on the road competing in hidden-camera challenges for the chance to turn back the clock and redeem three of the four Jokers.

Held Up

What should have been a romantic getaway turns into one hilarious debacle after another when Michael's woman dumps him in the desert where he gets carjacked by a teenager and he is taken hostage in a stickup at the local Sip and Zip.

The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex

While trying to prove to her family she can be mature and responsible, teen wizard Alex Russo conjures up a spell to rid herself of her bad qualities, unintentionally creating a Good and Evil Alex. When Evil Alex gets involved in a plan to take over the world by a dark wizard, Good Alex must find a way to save her family, humankind, and ultimately herself in an epic Good vs. Evil battle.

Ricky Gervais Live: Animals

Ricky Gervais entertains a live audience in his first stand-up routine.

Brain Donors

Three manic idiots—a lawyer, a cab driver and a handyman—team up to run a ballet company to fulfil the will of a millionaire. Stooge-like antics result as the trio try to outwit the rich widow and her scheming big-shot lawyer, who also wants to run the ballet.

Sneakerella

When El, an aspiring sneaker designer from Queens, meets Kira King, the fiercely independent daughter of legendary basketball star and sneaker tycoon Darius King, sparks fly as the two bond over their mutual affinity for sneakers. With a little nudge from his best friend and a sprinkle of Fairy Godfather magic, El finds the courage to use his talent to pursue his dream of becoming a ‘legit’ sneaker designer in the industry.

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Sue Ellen Crandell is a teenager eagerly awaiting her mother's summer-long absence. While the babysitter looks after her rambunctious younger siblings, Sue Ellen can party and have fun. But then the babysitter abruptly dies, leaving the Crandells short on cash. Sue Ellen finds a sweet job in fashion by lying about her age and experience on her résumé. But, while her siblings run wild, she discovers the downside of adulthood

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2

Puppy mayhem turns the lives of newlywed Chihuahua parents Papi and Chloe upside down when their rambunctious, mischievous puppies present one challenge after another. But when their human owners end up in trouble, the tiny pups will stop at nothing to save them - because in good times and hard times, the family always sticks together. So Papi, Chloe and the puppies embark on a heroic adventure, proving once again that big heroes come in small packages.

Take the Money and Run

Virgil Starkwell is intent on becoming a notorious bank robber. Unfortunately for Virgil and his not-so-budding career, he is completely incompetent.