Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival 2009 Schedule

10:00–11:15  Comic-Con Film School Session IV: Postproduction and Visual FX—The fourth and final day of this comprehensive course will go over the basics of editing on your home computer, as well as what software to use for editing, graphic design, sound design, and finally, how to get your finished product to DVD and the web. The latter half of the class will specialize on Digital Visual FX, where panelist Michael Scott (director, Ryan vs. Dorkman) will go over the basics of VFX, as well as some down and dirty techniques for taking your movie to the next level. Other panelists include Valerie Perez (producer/star of Paula Peril—Trapped in the Flames and Tears of the Dragon, a Lara Croft Fan Film), Nick Murphy (director of Tears of the Dragon), and Sean Rourke (writer/director of 1st Person Shooter).

11:15–12:15  CCI-IFF Awards—It's the moment many of our filmmakers have been waiting for all weekend long: the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival's annual awards ceremony! Who will win the awards for "Best of" in each category, plus the "Judges' Choice" award, celebrating the best overall film in the festival? Here's where they—and you!—find out! Join Comic-Con's Gary Sassaman along with CCI-IFF 2009 judges Beth Accomando, Mark Altman, and Mark Bernadin as they give out the awards and discuss the films.

Science Fiction/Fantasy Category

12:15–12:40 Hirsute—A young time traveler is confronted by an arrogant and hairless future version of himself. A. J. Bond, writer/director of Hirsute, talks about his film.

12:40–1:15 Turbo—This high-adrenaline short film in the tradition of The Karate Kid and Tron tells the story of Hugo Park, a misspent youth whose only outlet for anger is a 4D arcade game called Super Turbo Arena. When Pharaoh King, the Michael Jordan of cyber-sports, announces a tournament to determine who will join his pro-team, Hugo sets his eyes on the prize. But he isn't the only gamer who wants fame and glory. If Hugo wants to win he's going to have to beat Shamus, the all time Turbo champ at the local Pandemonium arcade, and Ruse Kapri, a feisty prep girl that knows how to win. Realizing he can't win on his skill alone, Hugo turns to his brother Tobias, a former kickboxer whose last match left him wheelchair ridden. Together the two will mend old wounds and see if a washed-up street fighter can teach a troubled teen how to become a virtual gladiator! 

1:15–1:45 The Son of Santo—Adonay Guerrero's film chronicles Juan, a young outsider who lives in poverty, and used to believe as a boy that his father was the famous wrestler and film star "Santo." Years later, after his father disappears, Juan witnesses a murder, which shocks him into remembering he is the son of a "famous superhero."

1:45–2:10 The Winged Man—The only thing we know for certain in The Winged Man is that Daysi, a Latina high school girl, is pregnant. Is the conception the son of a mystical Winged Man, as the girl insists? Or the result of a one-night stand, as the Daysi's mother claims? This visually arresting and poetic rumination on truth asks what it means to hold onto your beliefs and what it takes to let them go. Panelists include Marta McGonagle (Weeds, Believe in Me), Tiffany Hines (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Beyond the Break), director Marya Mazor, and producers Stephanie Bell and Camillia Sanes.

2:10-2:30 Afterglow—In the aftermath of a failed alien invasion, two men from the newly formed militia are challenged with determining if the threat died with the invasion or if it lies manifest in a once familiar territory. Participating panelists include writer/director Andres Anglade, executive producer Melissa Scotti, and visual effect artist Blaise Hossain.

2:30–2:50 Over the River and Through the Higher Dimensions—A normal trip to Grandma's house takes a turn for the extraordinary when Dillon's Grandma (Ruth Hosty) gives him a teleporter. The mysteries of the universe are revealed as she explains how she built a machine to transport him instantly from one place to another. Grandma's device ultimately gives Dillon the chance to discover the entire universe...but to what end? Writer/director/costar Dillon Markey talks about his film.

2:50–3:10 Believe—Desperate to escape his abusive stepfather, eight-year-old Nicholas builds a magical machine in hopes of bringing back his dead father to save him. Participating panelists include writer/director T. Justin Ross, cinematographer Ryan Spindell, visual effects supervisor David J. Morgan, production designer Ajay Gupta, and music composer Gregory Trip.

3:10–3:40 GoodSam and Max—A good natured young girl named Sam learns the ways of a harsh post-apocalyptic wasteland from her mentor, Max, a grumpy, Uzi-wielding mercenary teddy bear with a drinking problem. Participating panelists include director Gil Nevo (former South Park animator), producer Joshua Hersko, lead actress Tania Raymonde (Lost), and puppet master Scott Schutzki.

3:40-5:15 Schrödinger's Girl—Rebecca Hunter is a disgraced scientist conducting research into alternate universes. She discovers a way to travel between realities, and finds that her parallel-world counterparts have their own agendas. Panelists include writer/director Huw Bowen, Abigail Tarttelin (Rebecca in Schrödinger's Girl and Fenella in The Butterfly Tattoo), Damian Hayes (Matthew in Schrödinger's Girl), and Amelia Tyler (the voice of Q in Schrödinger's Girl).