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Contact!
The infinitely vast reaches of outer space evoke fear and wonder in equally boundless measure. It's not just boldly going - these are films which play on our fears of invasion, extinction and annihilation!
Our fundamental human craving for an understanding of how (and why) we got here, the ardour with which we explore our new frontiers, and our desperation to know whether we are indeed alone in the universe, all make us desperately hungry for these visions of ‘strange new worlds,’ and have resulted in some of the most dramatic and indelible moments in the history of cinema.
AmbitionAmbition
Science Fiction 2014 mins
In this spectacular and unusual sci-fi short commissioned by the European Space Agency, a young apprentice in the art of terraforming planets is given a tutorial by her enigmatic master.
Automatic MotoristAutomatic Motorist
Comedy 1911 6 minsSilent
A leisurely drive turns into an out-of-this-world adventure for a newlywed couple and their robot chauffeur.
Man Returns from SpaceMan Returns from Space
1961 20 mins
The USSR and the world react to the return of Yuri Gagarin from his first manned space flight on 12th April 1961.
A Message from MarsA Message from Mars
Science Fiction 1913 60 mins Location: London
Britain's first full-length science fiction feature has been restored by the BFI National Archive and given a new score by composer Matthew Herbert, commissioned by the BFI and the BBC.
Peter and the Moon ManPeter and the Moon Man
Children's 1929 14 minsSilent
The man in the moon learns about hygiene in this 1929 public information short promoting the benefits of all-electric mod cons.
Red MoonRed Moon
Documentary 1957 4 mins
A propaganda film from 1957 detailing USSR’s experiments with satellites as it stood on the cusp of space exploration.
A Trip to the MoonA Trip to the Moon
Science Fiction 1902 11 minsSilent
A classic of early sci-fi providing an awe-inspiring and delightful account of man’s first mission to the Moon.
UnknownUnknown
Science Fiction 1972 25 mins Location: Sheffield
This bizarre science fiction film made by students at Sheffield University gives a great insight into the mindset and aesthetic of the early 1970s.
Valentina TereshkovaValentina Tereshkova
Documentary 1963 11 mins
This USSR-sponsored newsreel reports on the heroic return of the first woman to have flown in space.
The WatchersThe Watchers
Drama 1969 26 mins Location: Todmorden
A Yorkshire teenager begins to see and hear strange things in this unsettling slice of 60s sci-fi.
Keep Watching SkiesKeep Watching Skies
Amateur film 1975 21 mins Location: Comber
Beware as the all-consuming creature from outer space embarks on a rampage of horror and death in this World Amateur Film of The Year.
The Tryzzian ExilesThe Tryzzian Exiles
Amateur film 1972 24 mins Location: Newtownards
Alien outcasts run amok on planet Earth in Roy Spence's sci-fi romp, a film that draws on the lo-fi charm of Ed Wood and Roger Corman.
SpecimensSpecimens
Amateur film 1982 16 mins Location: Ballymagowan
Alien overlords, a giant robot and cavemen… welcome to the feverish imagination of Roy Spence.
The DrumlinThe Drumlin
Amateur film 1980 18 mins Location: Strangford Lough
Who will triumph when a game of hide and seek turns into a campaign against nuclear power?
More Sci-Fi: Contact! films in our Rentals collection.