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Every year BSFS, as part of the Balticon Convention, sponsors The Balticon Sunday Short Science Fiction Film Festival (BSSSFFF), held traditionally on (surprise!) Sunday night. Certificates are given for audience-selected best animated and live action films.

Call For Submissions

Dear Film Maker:

The deadline for submitting films for 2022 has passed. To submit a film for Balticon 57 (2023), after September 1 go to balticon.org and click on Events under the Activities tab on the top menu for instructions. Films are due between November 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

Results of Prior Film Festivals

Results from the 2022 Balticon Sunday Short Science Fiction Film Festival (BSSSFFF)(B56)

Over 200 films were submitted and twenty three films were shown on Sunday Evening May 29. Viewers were asked to rate each film as: Award quality, Outstanding, Excellent, Interesting, Watchable or Poor. The results of the voting were as follows:

First place - Orbital Christmas
Second place - Franceska
Third place - Ambassadors of the Cosmos
Honorable Mention - Cadde La Notte Su Di Me
Honorable Mention - The Eye of Terror
Honorable Mention - Mind Blank
Honorable Mention - The Hellish Family
Part 1
1 Covid Love - Rene Nuijens - England -6:03
2 Desert Waltz - Alan Rosenfeld - US -3:04
3 Yvm - Euloxio Fernandez - Spain -11:08
4 Una de Superheroes - Chon Lopez Solano - Spain -11:32
5 Delivered - J B Arbogast - US - 8:20
6 Joselito - Jose Carlos, Jimenez Revuelta, Marta Jimenez Revuelta - Spain -8:41
7El Paseo - Alberto Vicente - Spain -6:18
8 Ambassadors of the cosmos - Béla Klingl - Hungary -8:00
9 You who are so modern - Karin Isnotu, Martinez Rodrigues - Spain -10:20
10 Orbital Christmas - Mitsuyasu Sakai - Japan -16:10
11 Cadde La Notte su di me - Bruno Ugioli, Riccardo Menicatti - Italy -4:57
12 Hamelin - Silvia Conesa - Spain -9:39
13 Chicha Sentai - Rogger Vergara Adrianzen - Peru -8:43
14 Spiricom - Ruben H Perez, Carmen Nogueroles - Spain -13:38
Part 2
15 Acid - Arpad Kood - Hungary -11:09
16 The eye of Terra - Cedrick Spinassou - France -11:24
17 Jettison - JJ Pollack - US -11:13
18 Mind Blank - Ana De Alva - Spain -19:53
19 M.O.M. - Patricia Huguet - Spain -19:27
20Human Trash - Aitor Almuedo- Spain -16:39
21 Survivers - Carlos Gomez-Trigo - France, Spain -6:29
22The Hellish Family - Toni O. Prats, Callahan Ruiz - Spain -14:55
23 Franceska - Alberto Cano - Spain -7:30

Results from the 2021 Balticon Sunday Short Science Fiction Film Festival (BSSSFFF) (B55)

Out of 200 films that were submitted, twenty films were shown on Sunday Evening May 30. Viewers were asked to rate each film as: Award quality, Good, Average, Poor or Terrible. The results of the voting were as follows:

First place - La Tercera Parte (Third Part)
Second place - Polvotron 500
Third place (tied) - Earth 3
Third place (tied) - Where Do You Get Off
Honorable Mention - Je Veille Sur Toi (Help 3)
Honorable Mention - Return to Sender
Honorable Mention - The Consent and Environment 101
Part 1
TITLE - SUBMITTED BY - GENRE - COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - LENGTH
1. Return to Sender - Malibu Taetz - Fantasy - Canada - 21 minutes
2. Earth 3 - Antoine Morineau - Science fiction, Animation - France - 5 minutes
3. The Substitute - Malibu Taetz - Fantasy - Canada - 14 minutes
4. Where do you Get Off - Chuck Mara and Megan Marra - Fantasy - US - 13 minutes
5. Se Tiene Gue Ir Ya (She has to go now) - Alberto Carpintero - Fantasy - Spain - 7 minutes
6. La Tercera Parte (The Third Part) - Alicia Albares and Paco Cavero - Realistic - Spain - 15 minutes
7. The Melody - Florian Lejal - Fantasy - France - 14 minutes
8. Estaba Cantado (Jackpot) - Cristisn Casado Pére and Dennis Gleiss - Comedy, Horror - Spain - 6 minutes
9. Je Veille sur toi (Help 3) - Janek Tarkowski - Science fiction - France - 16 minutes
Part 2
TITLE - SUBMITTED BY - GENRE - COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - LENGTH
1. Despues de Final (After the End) - Javier Guillot Sillas - Horror, Zombies - Spain - 8 minutes
2. Remembrance - Shane Joseph Willis - Science fiction - Australia - 15 minutes
3. Two short very short films by Zef Lucas (The Consent, Environment 101) - Zef Lucas - Comedy, Science Fiction - France - 5 minutes
4. Solucio per la Tristesa (Solution for sadness) - Arc Martinz Jordan and Tuixen Benet Consculluela - Fantasy - Spain - 15 minutes
5. Terminal Happiness - Eric Romero - Realistic - US, Estonia - 16 minutes
6. Polvotron 500 - Silvia Conesa - Cyberpunk - Spain - 11 minutes
7. Sonrisas (Smiles) - Javier Chanavel - Horror, Comedy - Spain - 13 minutes
8. Conversations with a monkey - Tanja Joji? and Eduardo Grojo - Science fiction - Spain - 15 minutes
9. The Arctic Syndrome - Borja EcheverrÍa Lamata - Horror - Spain - 13 minutes
10. Re-animal - Ruben Garcera Soto - Horror, Animation - Spain - 13 minutes

Results from the 2020 Balticon Sunday Short Science Fiction Film Festival (BSSSFFF)


Because of the worldwide covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, Balticon 54 was initially cancelled in early March 2020. However, about a week after the cancellation the Baltimore Science Fiction Society made the decision to host a Virtual Balticon 54 on the web. This was a free (donations gladly accepted) weekend of web-based panels, talks, games, films and of course our long-standing Sunday Night Short Film Festival.
 
About 200 films were submitted by the time the original con was cancelled. We decided to pick the top 10% of the almost 200 films that were submitted and screened them twice over the weekend - once on Sunday evening (when else will you have a Sunday Night film festival?) with a repeat showing on Monday afternoon. Because of the complexity of doing this on the web with no prior experience by us, or probably any other science fiction con, we decided to award participation certificates to the 18 movies that were screened. No awards for best picture, etc. were awarded.
 
The 18 movies that were chosen (in alphabetical order) were:
Title Director/writer Where and length
1 Behavior Pattern Manuel Martin MerinoSpain - 9:02
2Capitan KenesisCarles JofreSpain - 10:50
3 Cosas Que PasanJesus LoniegoSpain - 8:03
4 El Viaje de mi VidaAndres CamaraSpain - 8:01
5 Future BoyfriendBen RockU.S. - 11:35
6 God GlitchGideon Van EedenThe Netherlands - 7:58
7 IdentityDespina CharalampousGreece - 14:32
8 La SantaVega HalenSpain - 8:04
9 Mechanical LifeYoshihisa NakanishiJapan - 5:03
10 MetrocabinSilvia Otero Andres CastroSpain - 6:23
11 NJakob von Hieronymus Italy - 13:41
12 ParticulesDavid BrunetFrance - 15:00
13 RebootAndrei Thutat UngurRomania - 14:58
14 Seven SecondDavid BertoniU.S. - 4:30
15 The BridgeAntony ScheltsU. K. - 6:41
16 Tinder TimeOlga Osorio Spain - 7:55
17 WashoutAlexandre MassonFrance - 13:37
18 X27Jose Luis MoraSpain - 4:37

 
 

Results from the 2019 Balticon Sunday Short Science Fiction Film Festival (BSSSFFF)


From more than 300 submitted films, 17 were selected for presentation:
Title Director/writer Where and date
1 No caminho da escola (On the way to school ) Rosaria Moreira Brazil - 2017
2 Bad Timing Clifford Lowe US - 2019
3 Exit Jose Luis Velazquez Menendez Spain - 2016
4 Gryphon Animo Matthew Maloney US - 2018
5 Marta Juan Fco. Andres Spain - 2017
6 Greta Dani Calavera Spain - 2019
7 El Despues (Afterwards) Leandro Vallejo Argentina - 2017
8 Sputnik Vincente Bonet Spain - 2017
9 Widdershins Simon P. Biggs UK - 2018
10 Extraterrestres (Aliens) Simon Fariza Spain - 2016
11 Your Last Day on Earth Marc Martinez Jordan Spain - 2018
12 El Origen Jose Antonio Campos Aguilera Spain - 2018
13 Psychic Sue Dave Lojek Ireland - 2014
14 Dark Spectre II Bruce Nachsin US - 2018
15 Celda Dual (Dual Cell) [American Premiere] Ignacio Malagon Del Rio Spain - 2019
16 Loot Pablo Medina Spain - 2018
17 Normal Paco Caballer Spain - 2018
Based upon audience voting, the following 6 certificates were awarded:
First Place - Sputnik by Vincente Bonet (Live action)
Second Place - Greta by Dani Calavera (Live action)
Third Place - Widdershins by Simon P. Biggs (Animation)
Honorable mention - Dark Spectre II by Bruce Nachsin (Live action)
Honorable mention - El Despues (Afterwards) by Leandro Vallejo (Live action)
Honorable mention - Celda Dual (Dual Cell) by Ignacio Malagon Del Rio (Live action)
 
 

Balticon 52 Film Festival 2018 Audience Awards.


 
The Baltimore Science Fiction Society's Balticon Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention was held May 25-28, 2018 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland with close to 1600 science fiction and fantasy fans in attendance. For over 3 hours on Sunday evening a set of 19 short films were viewed by several hundred of these fans. Awards in two categories (Live action and Animation) were given to several of the films based upon audience votes for their favorite films. The winning films were as follows:
Category 1. Live Action
First place: "The Nostalgist" by Giacomo Cimini, 2014, 17:42
Second place: "Future Hero" by Ramin Serry, 2014, 6:26
Third place: "Einstein-Rosen" by Olga Osorio, 2016, 9:00
Honorable mention: "Rise" by Dave Karlak (@davidkarlak), 2014, 5:00
Honorable mention: "Strange Beasts" by Magali Barbe, 2017, 5:19
Honorable mention: "Red Rover" by Brooke Goldfinch, 2015, 15:14
Category 2. Animation
First place: "Wire Cutters" by Jack Anderson, 2014, 8:32
Second place: "Planet Unknown" by Shawn Wang, 2016, 9:15
Third place: "Strange Invaders" by Cordell Barker, 2001, 8:31

The results from Balticon 47 through Balticon 51 are missing.

Balticon 46 Film Festival 2012 Audience/Director Awards.


Best Animated Short: The Chase — Philippe Gamer, director
Best Live Action Short: The Oblique Sector — Jason M. Reulet, director
Best Specialty Film/Music Video: Eye of the Storm — Christopher Alender, director
Directors Choice: Alchemy and Other Imperfections — Zachary Rothman, writer/director
2nd Place Animated: Eleven — Josh Marvel, director
3rd Place Animated: Le Vilain de petit carre — James and Robert Dastoli, directors
4th Place Animated: Wiggle Room — Joey Shanks, director
2nd Place Specialty Film/Music Video:Better Be Goin' — Robert Fernandez-Ferreira, directors
2nd Place Live Action:Dr. Grodberts: The Deadlist Game — James Cunningham, director
3rd Place Live Action:Certified — Luke Asa Guidici, director
4th Place Live Action:Asternauts — Marta Masferrer, director
5th Place Live Action:Archetype — Aaron Sims, director
6th Place Live Action:Nede — Izabela Ciesinsk, director
7th Place Live Action:Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46 — Anthony Vouardoux
8th Place Live Action:Single Player — Pawel Soja, director
9th Place Live Action:Cache, a Firefly fan film — Clifford Ackman, producer
10th Place Live Action:Rust Valley — John Whoriskey, Jr., director; Ryan Dolton writer
11th Place Live Action:Padlocks — Ettore Nicoletti, director
12th Place Live Action:Alter Ego — Gabe Fremuth, writer/director
13th Place Live Action:When Will It Be Silent — Dan Sachar, director
14th Place Live Action:This Is Entity One — Gregory Raw, director

Balticon 45 Film Festival 2011 Audience/Director Awards.


Best Animated Short: Zero — Christopher Kezelos, director
Best Live Action Short: Dead on Time — Kostos Skiftas, Andreas Lambropoulos, directors
Directors Choice-Animated Sintel — Colin Levy, writer/director
Directors Choice-Live ActionCorbin — Brent Weichsel, director
2nd Place Animated: Virus — Fred Mangan, director
3rd Place Animated: Machines of the Working Class — James and Robert Dastoli, directors
4th Place Animated: Sintel — Colin Levy, director
5th Place Animated:Hambusters — Paul Alexandre, Maxime Cazaux, Dara Cazamea, Romain Delauney, Bruno Ortolland, directors
6th Place Animated:Dr. Time Travel to the Rescue — Clyde James Aragon, director
6th Place Animated:The Wonder Hospital — Boemsik Shimbe Shim, director
2nd Place Live Action:Captivus — Casey Patrick Tebo, director
3rd Place Live Action:Hector Corporation — Gary H. Lee, writer/director
4th Place Live Action:Cockpit: The Rule of Engagement — Jesse Griffith, writer/director
5th Place Live Action:We, Time Machines — Raul Navarro,director
6th Place Live Action:Passing — Kris Holodak, director
7th Place Live Action:Everything is Super — Gareth Davies, director
8th Place Live Action:Gilles Corporation — Chris Shepard, director
9th Place Live Action:Arms Race — Nigel Clagg, director
10th Place Live Action:Lonely — Tara Garwood, director
11th Place Live Action:The Clearing — Seth Larney, director
12th Place Live Action:Corbin — Brent Weichsel, director
13th Place Live Action:Job Interview with a Vampire — Sarah P. Steele, director
14th Place Live Action:Toothless — Steve Dorrington, director
15th Place Live Action:10.09.09 — David Franklin, writer/director
16th Place Live Action:Au Commencement (In the Beginning) — Chris Shepard, director
Specialty ShortElfquest: A Fan Imagining — Stephanie Thorpe, Paula Rhodes, directors

Balticon 44 Film Festival 2010 Audience/Director Awards.


Best Specialty Short(science fact or music video): This Too Shall Pass (music video) — Directors: OK Go, James Frost, Synn Labs
Best Animated Short: ETA — Henrik Bjerregaard Clausen, Director
Best Live Action Short(tied score): The Legacy — Mike Doto, writer/director
Best Live Action Short(tied score): Android Love — Lee Citron, writer/director
Directors Choice-AnimatedThe Painter of Skies — Jorge Morais Valle, writer/director
Directors Choice-Live ActionMy Friend Josh — Shaun Springer, director
2nd Place Animated: Back To Life — Mike Salva, director
3rd Place Animated: Santa: The Fascist Years — Bill Plympton, writer/director
4th Place Animated: Vegeterrible — Henrik Sønniksen, Benjamin Nielson, directors
5th Place Animated:Lifeline — Andres Salaff, writer/director
6th Place Animated:The Astronomer's Dream — Malcolm Sutherland, writer/director
2nd Place Live Action:Measured Sacrifice — Ann Arbor Films, John Whitney, writer/director
3rd Place Live Action:The Frustration With Animation — Bryan Alexander, director
4th Place Live Action:Pos+tive — Lonnie Martin, director
5th Place Live Action:The Anachronism — Matthew Gordon Long, director
6th Place Live Action:The Sweet Hand of the White Rose — Davide Melini, director
7th Place Live Action:Cut|Paste — Thomas Fosseli, Fredrik A. Sundbye, directors
8th Place Live Action:Current — Jordan Sharon, Brian May, directors
9th Place Live Action:Burden — Michael David Lynch, writer/director
10th Place Live Action:S. S. Humanity — Matthew Ladensack, director
11th Place Live Action:Duel of the Overmen — Brendon DeVore, director
12th Place Live Action:Mind Void — Kyle Von Tonder, writer/director
13th Place Live Action:Harley Quinn's Big Blind Date — Jason Damian, director
14th Place Live Action:A Hot Meal — Jamison Derfler, writer/director
15th Place Live Action:The Flash: Crossover — Jason Damian, director
2nd Place Specialty ShortDoes TV Make You Fat? — Denis van Waerebeke, director

Balticon 43 Film Festival 2009 Audience/Director Awards.


Best AnimatedBurning Safari — Created by: Vincent Aupetit, Maxime Maleo, Aurelien Predal, Florent de la Taille, Claude-William Trebutien, Jeanne Irzenski
Best Live ActionThe Hunt for Gollum — Chris Bouchard, director
3rdSix Impossible Things — Patrick VandenBussche, writer/director
4thAlliance — Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad, writer/director; Dr. Gemal Seede, writer
5thThe Lift — Kenneth Evans, writer/director
6thThru — Christopher J. Ewing, director
7thThe Space Stone — Angel Declet, writer/director
Directors ChoiceCronos — Juan Pennisi, writer/director


Balticon 42 Film Festival 2008 Audience Award Ranking.


1The End is Night — James Cotter, Director550 points
2The Toll — J. Zachary Pike, Director516 points
3The Ungone — Simon Bovey, Director509 points
4Eli — Josh Lee Kwai, Director503 points
5A Gentlemen's Duel — Franciso Ruiz & Sean McNally, Directors494 points
6Postcards From the Future — Alan Chan, Director484 points
7Memory Sticks — Kris Holodak, Director480 points
8Hugh — Matthieu Navarro, Sylvain Nouveau, Francois Pommiez, Aurore Turbe, Creators454 points
9Final Run — Kenneth Foley, Director392 points
10Light Sabers — Travis Boles, Director367 points
11Replay — Anthony Voisin, Zakaria Boumediane, Fabien Felicite-Zulma, Camille Delmeule, Creators330 points
1272 Hours From Now — David Procter, Peter King, Directors284 points

Balticon 41 Film Festival 2007 Audience Award Ranking.


1Hide and Seek (G) — Chris Romano, Creator/Director645 points
2Delivery (G) — Till Novak; framebox.de628 points
3Bastards of Kirk (PG-13) — Director: Logan Lubera592 points
4Starship Groove (G) — from Animusic2 www.animusic.com551 points
5The Bushman of Bunyip Billabong(G) — Cameron Edser and Michael Richards492 points
6Dark Operations: A Dark Odyssey Begins (PG) — Rising Phoenix Productions370 points
7Copenhagen Cycles (G) — Eric Dyer359 points
8First World: The Revelation of Mankind (PG) — Written by Mark Lund, Directed by Adam Starr337 points
9The Vibranator (R) — Tepid Fish Productions.304 points
10Nebulous 1 (G) — David Wanger; soundscapes by Seiss.199 points
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