SCI-FI-LONDON is delighted to announce the launch of the SCI-FI-LONDON 48 hour film challenge as part of this year’s SCI-FI-LONDON, the UK’s only dedicated science fiction and fantastic film festival (30 April – 4 May 2008).

The 48 hour Film Challenge will take place 5 – 7^th April 2008. 
Entrants register as a team online and then attend a briefing on April 5^th where they are given a randomly generated film title, some dialogue and a prop – all of which must be in their 5 minute film. 
They then have 2 days to write, shoot, edit and complete the film and return it by Noon on April 7^th.    

Louis Savy, Festival Director said “Amateurs, professionals, whoever – we challenge you to make a 5 minute SF film in just 48 hours.  It is a tough call, but with the right approach it can be done.  Don’t think special effects, explosions, aliens and spaceships – think good story!
We know that the UK has a vibrant and smart filmmaking community and we want them to consider movies like BODYSNATCHERS, STALKER or PRIMER – all fantastic films with little or no CGI or effects, and some amazing ideas..” Prizes include a Canon HD camera, £250 cash, Archos video player and much more. 

The jury for the contest will be announced shortly and will include a few celebrity names!All the films made will be screened at the festival and then all go online at SCI-FI-LONDON.TV, our online film festival.  The event is being supported by The Sci-Fi Channel, the UK’s cable and satellite broadcaster.

 For information on SCI-FI-LONDON contact:

SCI-FI-LONDON SEVEN -

About the festival:The UK’s only science fiction and fantastic film festival, SCI-FI-LONDON is set to deliver its seventh festival in 2008.  Over the last 6 years SCI-FI-LONDON has shown itself to be a hit with venues, sponsors, film studios and our audience. 

Each year screening attendance has topped 80% and we have consistently attracted excellent media attention. The festival continues to bring fun, challenging and interesting movie premieres to the UK along with our programme of rarely screened classics. 
We pride ourselves on delivering World, UK and London premieres (WILD ZERO, VERSUS, AKIRA, FALL OF THE LOUSE OF USHER, SLIPSTREAM, AVALON, MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, THE MACHINIST, PRIMER, FINAL FANTASY:ADVENT CHILDREN, CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, PAPRIKA and 28 WEEKS LATER) and a dynamic shorts programme, which has sold out every year. 

CONFIRMED FOR SCI-FI-LONDON 7:

PARAGRAPH 78
(2007, RUSSIA, MIKHAIL KHELBORODOV) Based on the novels by Ivan Ohlobystin.In the not-so-distant future, a crew of ex-commandoes is assigned an important secret mission. This is a welcome opportunity for the retired soldiers to be reunited with their brothers-in-arms. But there are few old scores between them that have yet to be settled, and this bad blood could threaten the whole mission. This team of super pros realize that there are more important things than sticking to the Paragraph–the code of the commando. And they soon discover that the real danger lies not in the weapons base where they have been posted, but within their own team.www.p78.ru 

WOLFHOUND
(2007, RUSSIA, NIKOLAI LEBEDEV)
Based on a best-selling Russian novel, Nikolia Lebedev’s THE WOLFHOUND spins an epic sword and sorcery tale of a fierce warrior’s quest for revenge for the death of his parents. Four years in the making, with the biggest budget in Russian history, THE WOLFHOUND is a gripping, action-packed feast that will delight fans of LORD OF THE RINGS, CONAN and KRULL.  

Right up there with the best Hollywood (and New Zealand!) sword and sorcerer genre films, but we think it is better as the characters aren’t the usual polished American or seasoned British actors. 

 NETHERBEAST INCORPORATED
(2007, USA, Dean Ronalds)Berm-Tech Industries is a front for a sect of vampires the world would’ve otherwise forgotten. But they’ve kept themselves going through a communal approach; they work together and all live in the same building to make sure their numbers, which certainly aren’t growing in the 21st Century, at least don’t diminish.   Problem is the top man at Berm-Tech (Darrell Hammond) has contracted a disease which causes him to start losing his memory.  Not only has he forgotten he is a vampire but he hires a couple of new people to the secretive company. 

 One of the new employees, PD Landry (Judd Nelson) is a time-and-motion guy brought in to improve productivity! While the second, Pearl (Amy Davidson) quickly captures the heart of Otto Granberry (Steve Burns) our faithful vampire computer guru and narrator.  Not only this but members of Berm-Tech suddenly begin to disappear and Pearl begins to grow suspicious of the companies’ vampire-like qualities, Otto must solve the case, win the girl and save the day.  

Creatively scripted, this low budget independent film is the kind that demonstrates how filmmakers can perceptively make an entertaining movie without having a huge Hollywood budget.

Starring: Darrell Hammond, Judd Nelson, Steve Burns, Amy Davidson, Jason Mewes and Robert Wagner “It’s like if the Coen brothers had made Shaun of the Dead” AintItCool.Com

Tel:       +44(0) 20 3239 9277                           Mobile:   +44 (0) 77537 46621
Email:    louis@sci-fi-london.com                       Website:  sci-fi-london.com 

Film London is pleased to support SCI-FI-LONDON Film Festival as a significant contributor to London’s film cultural live. 

Video game publisher Mastiff announced today that their upcoming title, Major League Eating:

The Game, will makes its debut as an exclusive on WiiWare^TM, Nintendo’s new downloadable game service for the Wii^TM console, which launches May 12 in North America. The game will make extensive use of the Wii Remote^TM to simulate the fast and furious action of a professional eating competition.

“Watching Major League Eating is like watching poetry in motion” says Bill Swartz, Head Woof at Mastiff. “Professional gurgitators have the grace of ballerinas yet the brute strength, mental focus, and intestinal fortitude to push their bodies and minds as hard as athletes in any other extreme endurance sport. Victory is sweet and defeat can be well, really, really messy. It’s an experience we’re proud to help bring into the home.”

The game features the world’s greatest gurgitory athletes competing across a variety of foods and venues. Built much like a classic fighting game and deeper than a Chicago style deep-dish pizza, MLE: The Game requires players to master a smorgasbord of offensive and defensive weapons including bites, burps, belches, mustard gas and jalapeño flames while cramming and chewing food at a world-class pace. It’s not for the faint of heart, the slow of reflex, or those with an overly strong aversion to a Technicolor reversal of fortune.

Major League Eating: The Game uses the Wii Remote to simulate a variety of eating techniques including the cram, toss, and ‘typewriter.’ Burp-offs and Hot Potato challenges during the contests keep the competition intense and eaters on their toes.

Major League Eating: The Game is for one or two players, offers online play and a leader board.

Major League Eating, the professional league which oversees all top eating events in the nation, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, counts among its members Takeru Kobayashi, the Japanese eating phenomenon, and American Joey Chestnut, current champion of the world.