Invadr March 2026 Newsletter

BROOKLYN SCIFI at SXSW 2026

Our intrepid team of independent film technologists risked the effects of severe time dilation and airport chaos to catch this year's latest crop of films at SXSW. And it did not disappoint. Our picks are below in the SXSW Movie Guide.

Deep Space Degenerates — where personal boundaries are a myth and chaos is standard operating procedure. Episode 003 drops on March 31st. Catch up on the premier episode and, episode 2, now streaming on YouTube.

The Sci Fi Book Club selection for April is The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2025. Meet up and discuss online April 19th. Details below.

The Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival is open for Film Submissions for 2026. This year's festival is scheduled for October 5th through the 11th. As always, BSF alumni may submit for free. If you have had a film accepted to prior seasons, please reply to this email with your details to request an entry fee waiver.

Cyber Club, our platform for independent film, is open for filmmaker submissions and soon will be available for networking and distribution. Join the beta now at no cost and set up your channel. More details below.

As always, reply to this newsletter to get involved with the festival, ask questions or submit news. We're listening!

SXSW Movie Guide

GRIND

Directed by Brea Grant, Ed Dougherty, Chelsea Stardust
U.S.A. / SciFi / Horror / Comedy

This horror anthology tackles the modern work landscape through four timely perspectives – the hustle culture of an MLM, the endless repetitiveness of a food delivery driver, the online horrors of a content moderator, and the unionization of a familiar-feeling coffee shop. "Grind" shows what it means to be a worker in a world defined by wealth inequality and ruled by endlessly greedy oligarchs, one not so far removed from our own. This is a film for anyone who's ever hated their job, had a bad boss, or felt taken advantage of at work. In other words, it's a film for all of us.

KILL ME

Directed by Peter Warren
USA / Comedy / Crime / Thriller

One of my favorites from this year's festival. Kill Me is a new twist on the who-done-it genre of crime films that will have you both laughing out loud and holding back tears as it touches on themes of depression, trust, and our perceptions of reality. In this film, the victim is the suspect and must work his way backwards to arrive at the truth. All along, doubting his own perspective and objectivity.

The protagonist Jimmy wakes up in a bathtub filled with his own blood, his wrists slit and his life rapidly nearly completion. This would be a textbook failed suicide attempt, only…Jimmy didn't do it? At least, he’s pretty sure he didn't. Alongside Margot, the 911 operator who took his call that faithful night, Jimmy begins an amateur-hour murder investigation, desperate to prove that this is a whodunnit and not a hedunnit. The list of suspects who might be happy if Jimmy wasn't around anymore is fairly long—angry ex-girlfriends, frustrated siblings, exasperated psychiatrists, and resentful stepfathers. But the prime suspect is Jimmy himself.

NORMAL

Directed by Ben Wheatley
USA / Action / Thriller

Directed by Ben Wheatley, Normal is a kinetic neo-Western starring Bob Odenkirk. An unassuming substitute sheriff with a troubled past uncovers explosive secrets in a sleepy town. Think John Wick meets Fargo. Expect high action, explosive scenes, and non-stop carnage. Highly recommended for fans of quirky action films with top-notch fight choreography. The cast's chemistry is evident, making it a blast to watch.

I was able to attend a Q A session with the film's director and cast, and found director Ben Wheatley to be as quick-witted and funny as Mr. Odenkirk. They described how Normal was shot on location in Canada as an independent film (no studio backing), shortly after the filming of Nobody 2, which shared some of the same crew, and had actually started as a short riff written during that production. Snow plays a leading role in the film, and the Canadian winter weather was able to deliver without the need for special effects. The film is relatively short at 90 mins. Wheatley reasons that his films should be no longer than the need to take a [urination break], and the older he gets, the shorter the films tend to be. But behind the off-handed comment is a very tight, well edited film with action, and minimal character development beyond the sheriff. But still many memorable moments.

THE FOX

Directed by Dario Russo
Australia / Comedy / Fantasy

What can I say... I loved this film. Director Dario Russo is quick-witted as a fox, and was hilarious during the introduction to his mystical comedy featuring talking animals and the humans who ultimately regret listening to them. Nick (Jai Courtney), the affable heir to a wealthy rural landowner, discovers his fiancée, Kori (Emily Browning), is cheating on him and wants nothing more than to just fix the problem. One night, he captures a rogue Fox (Olivia Colman), and she offers him a trade-off: if Nick lets her live, the Fox will help him save his relationship. All he has to do is push Kori into a magic hole with the power to change her into the perfect partner. Nick follows the Fox's advice, and the Kori who re-emerges seems to be everything he ever wanted. Until her strange new quirks make him question his decision.

Practical effects were used for the talking animals, including three animatronic foxes, which may be the reason the acting and chemistry between human and non-human characters is done so well. Many twists and turns, and lots of gratuitous nudity for pure comedic value, The Fox is a parable - or a morality tale. Or maybe just plain fun on the screen. "It is what it is," as we humans are fond of saying. Thank you for making this film Mr. Russo. Looking forward to watching again.

DEEP SPACE DEGENERATES

Episode 003 – Premieres March 31, 2026

The latest episode of Deep Space Degenerates finds Captain Zaw fleeing his own disastrous wedding while an increasingly angry mob of guests gives chase. Just when escape seems possible, everyone runs head-first into one of the most feared creatures in the quadrant — the Bear Weevil.

Meanwhile, far from the chaos, Greggers is locked in an intense battle against a mysterious and relentless gaming rival who refuses to let him win.

Exploration was supposed to be noble. Out here, it's mostly damage control.

Welcome to Deep Space Degenerates — where personal boundaries are a myth and chaos is standard operating procedure.

THE SCI FI BOOK CLUB APRIL BOOK

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2025

This month we are keeping a beloved Sci Fi Book Club tradition alive. For the eleventh year in a row (wow, still can't believe that's right), we will be reading the newest edition of a short story collection called The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. It has been a Club favorite each year and takes a look at the current state of science fiction by highlighting some new and established writers in the genre.

SciFi Book Club Meetup
Join Us Online - Sunday, April 19 - 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT

More About the Book:

Stories are selected by John Joseph Adams and this year's guest editor, Nnedi Okorafor. Okorafor has appeared in this collection before and is best known for novels like Who Fears Death, Binti, and Lagoon (a Book Club selection back in 2018). She is celebrated for imaginative storytelling that is deeply rooted in African cultures, myths, and histories. Her work often blends Africanfuturism with speculative fiction, highlighting marginalized perspectives and exploring futures where myth and science coexist.

It's always interesting to see what themes and premonitions make their way into the writing zeitgeist in a given year. From Adams' website "The twenty stories in this collection simultaneously fulfill and defy expectations of genre, showcasing boundary-pushing authors at their best..From the joyous, to the terrifying, to the heart-wrenching and the absurd, these stories encourage you to open your mind and, as Okorafor promises, 'Watch your world expand.'"

To join a Book Club meeting, all you will need is YOURSELF. If you haven't had a chance to finish the book, we still would love for you to join us in the discussion. Not able to join us in person for events? The Sci Fi Book Club is on Discord. Join us and keep the conversation going.

Brooklyn SciFi and the team at Cyber-NY are working on something new. We're building an independent network for film professionals to share and monetize their work while connecting with fans. Our hope is to create a community with a year-round presence that encourages collaboration and the development of an independent streaming platform.

We're looking for intrepid filmmakers to join our beta for free by creating an account profile and uploading several films they're okay with sharing. We won't make your work public without prior consent, and our admin tools allow for self-management and deletion of videos.

We hope you'll join us on this journey as we navigate the changing landscape of art house cinema and independent film. Please sign up for our private beta if you're interested, or reply to this email with questions.

The Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival is
Now Open For Submissions For 2026
Submit Your Film Now and Save 50%

Brooklyn SciFi is Built and Hosted on Logic CMX.

Logic CMX is the cloud-based platform for creators, distributors, and festivals. Promote, sell, and stream. All with one platform built for independent creators. Learn more at Logic CMX.

Double-Feature at United Palace