The 8th Annual Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival will be coming to Los Angeles as part of brand-new event Dystopia Sci-Fi Con. Billed as an interactive event featuring a cinematic lineup of sci-fi, cyberpunk, virtual reality, and future noir alongside special guests, panels, exhibitors, and more, the convention will host the first three days of the Film Festival at the Los Angeles Convention Center November 8th-10th 2019.

Organizer Daniel Abella said:

 “Dystopia refers to a world out of balance where the human spirit is crushed under the weight of monopolistic corporations. Our event is a fascinating way of watching how our lives will be affected by what is to come. We are bringing back the look and sound of traditional sci-fi cons. In such a welcoming environment, fans can express their interests and feel more connected to everything they love about sci-fi.”

The festival will present a lineup of independent films, as well as a series of panels that explore author Philip K. Dick’s influence on science fiction. It’s also worth noting that this year’s event coincides with a very important date in PKD’s seminal work, “Do Androids Dream of Electic Sheep?,” the source novel for Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner”.

“Philip K. Dick created the modern spirit of rebellion through his questioning of a world run by conformity,” said Abella. “His work centered on the plight of humans keeping their dignity in the face of a dehumanized world and more than any other writer, he foresaw what is happening today.” “Blade Runner takes place in L.A. in 2019,” said Abella. “For this reason alone, I cannot think of a better time than now to christen our sci-fi con.”

The full schedule will be announced closer to the event, but here’s a taste of what’s to come at the Los Angeles November 2019 event-

Early Official Selections:

The Gunrunner Billy Kane (2019) — WORLD PREMIERE
Director: M.D. Selig
Run Time/Country: 57 min, USA
Synopsis: A rogue professor runs guns to fund dangerous brain experiments that could possibly save his dying daughter. Starring M.D. Selig (Zero Dark Thirty), Mark Arnold (Blade Runner 2049), John Kassir (Jack The Giant Slayer), Imelda Corcoran (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and Julianna Robinson (Nun).

Wild Boar (2019) — L.A. PREMIERE
Director: Barney Burman
Run Time/Country: 97 min, USA
Synopsis: In a world where man is suddenly no longer at the top of the food chain, a group search in the desert for a bounty left by an eccentric billionaire but instead end up being hunted by a mutant boar with an axe to grind. Starring Augie Duke (Burning Kentucky), Daniel Roebuck (The Fugitive), Jessica Sonneborn (The Basement), Douglas Tait (Hellboy), Jim Nieb (I’m Dying Up Here), and Michael Reed (Brides of Satan).

Special Guests + Panels:

Panels devoted to film screenings, artificial intelligence, classic film and television, dystopian futures, genetic engineering, graphic novels, stem-based applications, time travel, UFO’s, and the legacy of Philip K. Dick will be held. The following attendees have been confirmed ahead of a full guest list slated to be announced at a later date.

Tim Russ — Actor/Director/Musician
Well known for his impressive roster of film and television credits, Mr. Russ has appeared in Spaceballs (1987), The Highwayman (1987-1988), and The Orville (2019) in addition to his extensive presence throughout the Star Trek franchise that includes Star Trek: The Next Generation (1993), Star Trek Generations (1994), and Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001). He directed and starred in Star Trek: Of Gods and Men (2007) and Star Trek: Renegades (2015) and is an accomplished musician with albums such as Only a Dream in Rio (1998), Tim Russ (2000), Kushangaza (2001), and Brave New World (2003).

David Brin — Writer/Speaker/Futurist
As a New York Times best-selling author and winner of Hugo, Locus, Campbell, and Nebula awards, Mr. Brin’s novels include “The Postman” (1985), “Heart of the Comet” (1986), “Kiln People” (2002), and the successful “Uplift Universe” novels which envision galactic issues of sapience and destiny. In addition to his writing career, he is a renowned internet security expert, business and governmental consultant, social media influencer, public speaker, and scientist with a Ph.D. in Physics.

Barney Burman — Makeup Artist/Director/Screenwriter
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Makeup for Star Trek (2009), Mr. Burman is a highly acclaimed special effects makeup artist. He has worked on many notable productions including Body Snatchers (1993), The X-Files (1998), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Planet of the Apes(2001), and Bird Box (2018). For his directorial debut, his film Wild Boar (2019) will hold its L.A. Premiere at The 8th Annual Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival in 2019.

Elizabeth Karr — Actor/Producer/Teaching Artist
As producing partner for Discovery Productions, Ms. Karr has overseen numerous projects including the film adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s novel Radio Free Albemuth (2010). She produced the documentary The Good Breast (2016), which follows the journeys of four women and their surgeon through the course of breast cancer treatment and through her position as an executive member at Women In Film, is an advocate for female representation in cinema. In addition to working as a private acting coach and teaching artist, her acting credits include ER (2005), House (2005), Sleeper Cell (2006), and Women’s Murder Club (2007).

Julianna Robinson — Actor/Director/Producer/Screenwriter
A performer of noted depth, Ms. Robinson’s credits include The Undertakers (2014), The Funeral Guest (2015), Nun (2017), and The Gunrunner Billy Kane(2019). For her work as a director, producer, and screenwriter, she has taken part in the productions of Lucky Penny (2015), The Many Mishaps of Penelope and Ursula (2017), The Party (2019), and Hurricane Forecast (2019).

Saku Sakamoto — Animator/Director/Screenwriter
Skilled at the techniques of animation, Mr. Sakamoto has directed several short films including Denshinbashira Eremi no koi (2009), Mattsu, Yamma, and Moburi (2014), and Fisshâman (2016). He also created the digital effects for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004) and wrote and directed his first feature film ARAGNE: Sign of Vermillion (2018), an official selection at The 7th Annual Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival in 2019.

M.D. Selig — Actor/Director/Producer/Screenwriter
Having served in the U.S. Marines, Mr. Selig is a decorated combat veteran of Desert Storm. His first feature film Southern Justice (2006), for which he wrote, directed, produced and starred appeared on all major video outlets and is currently streaming on Netflix. He has been associated with several projects including Zero Dark Thirty (2012) and his production of The Gunrunner Billy Kane (2019), which will hold its World Premiere at The 8th Annual Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival in 2019.

John Alan Simon — Director/Producer/Screenwriter
A highly successful director, producer, and screenwriter, Mr. Simon serves as the president and CEO of Discovery Productions. He is noted for the film adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s novel Radio Free Albemuth (2010), which won Best Science Fiction Feature at The Inaugural Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival in 2012. Over the course of his career, he has been involved in the financing, production, sales, and marketing of films including The Haunting of Julia (1977), Out of the Blue (1980), Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf (1985), and The Wicker Man (2001).

Fans can follow the November 2019 film festival here, and the convention here. Tickets are available now through Eventbrite here.