2025 GeekFestUniverse Program

Wed Feb 12

Thurs Feb 13

Fri Feb 14

Sat Feb 15

Wed 12:00PM(EST) | Wed 12:55PM(EST) | Wed 1:30PM(EST)
Wed 2:00PM(EST) | Wed 3:30PM(EST) | Wed 4:30PM(EST)

Wednesday Feb 12 – 12:00PM(EST)

>>Official Opening Film<<

The Faraway Nearby – 01:18:00
Regional Premiere
Paula M Froehle – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Feature Documentary, Best Science Film

Synopsis The Faraway Nearby follows the tragic life of pioneer Physicist Joseph Weber, whose pursuit of gravitational waves takes him on a dizzying journey from the height of acclaim to the depths of despair and disdain when he breaks the cardinal rule of science and clings to his ideas though his results can’t be duplicated. Physicists, artists, and other creatives explore the emotional side of discovery and question whether the risk is worth the journey.

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Wed 12:00PM(EST) | Wed 12:55PM(EST) | Wed 1:30PM(EST)
Wed 2:00PM(EST) | Wed 3:30PM(EST) | Wed 4:30PM(EST)

Wednesday Feb 12 – 12:55PM(EST)

Wild Horses – 00:02:30
Regional Premiere
Wenjie Lee, Zhengyang Yin – China – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best AI Film, Best Animated Film

Synopsis The film “Wild Horses” tells the story of the survival scenes of a group of wild horses in the future. This film is produced by AI generation technology and can be regarded as a science fiction suspense concept film made with the latest AI technology.

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  • Keywords #China #AI Animation #Film #Horses #Fantasy #Commodity #Gasoline #ThePriceWePay #UrbanSprawl

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Wed 12:00PM(EST) | Wed 12:55PM(EST) | Wed 1:30PM(EST)
Wed 2:00PM(EST) | Wed 3:30PM(EST) | Wed 4:30PM(EST)

Wednesday Feb 12 – 1:30PM(EST)

The Dance of the Nain Rouge – 00:03:00
Regional Premiere
Eric Millikin – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best AI Film, Best Animated Film

Synopsis “The Dance of the Nain Rouge” is a decolonial Detroit demonology deepfake dance documentary inspired by the Nain Rouge legend. This shape-shifting supernatural being, attacked by colonists, has appeared as an omen before rebellions, including the Battle of Bloody Run in 1763 and the 1967 Detroit Rebellion. Known for its dance and metamorphosis, the Nain Rouge has also been said to direct the dance of black cats and change shape.

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Wed 12:00PM(EST) | Wed 12:55PM(EST) | Wed 1:30PM(EST)
Wed 2:00PM(EST) | Wed 3:30PM(EST) | Wed 4:30PM(EST)

Wednesday Feb 12 – 2:00PM(EST)

Monster Island – 00:06:00
Regional Premiere
Orlando Mendes – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best AI Film, Best Animated Film

Synopsis Embark on a mesmerizing journey into the heart of the Bermuda Triangle with “Monster Island”! 🌟 Join Dr. Frankenstein, Nickolas, Fran, Flok and their team as they race against time and malevolence to save children’s dreams from the clutches of the evil wizard Ojus Zoryki. 🚗✨ This animated adventure blends fantasy, time travel, and an epic car race, promising an unforgettable experience for the whole family. **Animation 3D produced with AI tools.

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Wed 12:00PM(EST) | Wed 12:55PM(EST) | Wed 1:30PM(EST)
Wed 2:00PM(EST) | Wed 3:30PM(EST) | Wed 4:30PM(EST)

Wednesday Feb 12 – 3:30PM(EST)

The Monster Man – 00:45:00
Regional Premiere
Roger Christopher Stevens – United Kingdom – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Short Documentary, Best Creature Design – Neil Cole
Best Unusual Interest Film

Synopsis There are many talented designers in the world creating the diverse and incredible range of alien creatures and monsters we see in top films and television series. But there are few experts, who are dedicated to preserving them after their screen use. Tragically, many famous monsters have been treated poorly by museums and broadcasters, degraded and rotting, they’ve been lost forever! Life-long Fan, and Movie Prosthetics aficionado Neil Cole has made it his mission to save everything possible.

  • FB ReelTimeTV
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  • Keywords #UnitedKingdom #Documentary #MovieProps #MovieProsthetics #DoctorWho #MovieMonsters #Aliens #Creatures #SciFi #SpecialEffects #SpecialEffectsMakeupArtist #Museum #BMovies #Collector #Weird #Wonderful

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Wed 12:00PM(EST) | Wed 12:55PM(EST) | Wed 1:30PM(EST)
Wed 2:00PM(EST) | Wed 3:30PM(EST) | Wed 4:30PM(EST)

Wednesday Feb 12 – 4:30PM(EST)

The Wad:
The True Story Behind the Phantom Lake County
Chewing Gum Disaster – 01:21:46
Regional Premiere
Christopher R. Mihm – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Feature Film, Best Folk Lore Film

Synopsis A KPHL Channel 6 Nightly News Anchor hosts a “look back” at one of the most shocking events ever to transpire in this this sleepy small town. Through interviews with survivors and major players involved in the crisis, re-enactments, and never-before-seen archival footage, the complete and unabridged story of the Wad of Chewing Gum that mutated, became sentient, grew to gargantuan proportions, and threatened the lives of every man, woman, and child in Phantom Lake County!

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

 

Wed Feb 12

Thurs Feb 13

Fri Feb 14

Sat Feb 15

Thurs 12:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:30PM(EST)
Thurs 2:00PM(EST) | Thurs 3:15PM(EST) | Thurs 3:30PM(EST) | Thurs 5:00PM(EST)

Thursday Feb 13 – 12:00PM(EST)

Yugam – 00:29:56
Regional Premiere
Kulandai Velappan Dhayalan – India – Tamil
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Short Film, Best Vertical Film, Best Actress – Narmadha Balu as “Narmi”

Synopsis One fine day when all seems normal and routine, a young couple is faced with baffling events involving the sphere of time. An aspiring screenwriter and his wife go through a rigmarole of repeated events that vary in their perceptions. A unique travel of order in disorder, this gripping tale encapsulates the reality of a screenwriter’s life and the fantasy of his life story!

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Thurs 12:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:30PM(EST)
Thurs 2:00PM(EST) | Thurs 3:15PM(EST) | Thurs 3:30PM(EST) | Thurs 5:00PM(EST)

Thursday Feb 13 – 1:00PM(EST)

Dopamine – 00:06:33
Regional Premiere
(The Short Film and Music Video Experience)
Anna Vengarte, Umnia El-Neil – United Kingdom – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Short Film, Best Music Video

Synopsis At the height of the pandemic, a young girl procrastinates by fantasizing of perfection, only to be interrupted by the spectre of her own chaotic self-hatred. A campy ode to Kevin Smith, Grunge and the return of the 90’s.

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Thurs 12:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:30PM(EST)
Thurs 2:00PM(EST) | Thurs 3:15PM(EST) | Thurs 3:30PM(EST) | Thurs 5:00PM(EST)

Thursday Feb 13 – 1:30PM(EST)

Dwindle – 00:16:54
Regional Premiere
John M. Broadhead – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Short Film,  Best Folk Lore Film, Best Creature Design – Joseph Barrett,
Best Actress – Anna-Mariia Gross as “Liz”, Best Actor Clint Obenchain as “Dominic”

Synopsis A young woman, traveling alongside her blind father in search of a new life, discovers that his chilling stories about an ancient forest creature will threaten their relationship in unforeseeable ways.

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Thurs 12:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:30PM(EST)
Thurs 2:00PM(EST) | Thurs 3:15PM(EST) | Thurs 3:30PM(EST) | Thurs 5:00PM(EST)

Thursday Feb 13 – 2:00PM(EST)

Koroneburg – 00:36:23
Regional Premiere
Jake Villadolid – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Short Documentary, Best Webisode or WebSeries Film

Synopsis While exploring the magical worlds found at Koroneburg Recreational Park, host Janey Hann finds herself on a journey of discovery and personal growth.

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Thurs 12:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:30PM(EST)
Thurs 2:00PM(EST) | Thurs 3:15PM(EST) | Thurs 3:30PM(EST) | Thurs 5:00PM(EST))

Thursday Feb 13 – 3:15PM(EST)

Haunt That Like Button – 00:07:24
Regional Premiere
David Mair – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Short Film, Best Webisode or WebSeries Film

Synopsis Darrell, host of ‘Exploration of the Occult and Paranormal with Darrell,’ live streams the unboxing of a cursed object.

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  • Keywords #Film #LiveStream #YouTube #Unboxing #NewPurchasedProduct #SocialMedia #Weird #Ghouls

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Thurs 12:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:30PM(EST)
Thurs 2:00PM(EST) | Thurs 3:15PM(EST) | Thurs 3:30PM(EST) | Thurs 5:00PM(EST)

Thursday Feb 13 – 3:30PM(EST)

Gradually And Then Suddenly – 00:32:38
World Premiere
Craig Trumbo – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Short Film, Best Experimental Film

Synopsis A one-act drama in which a man (The Scientist) passes from life to death, having “walked into the light.” Throughout several parallel lives, characters comfort themselves in believing that whatever effects climate change might bring, the consequences would occur long after they were gone. That made it easy for them to rationalize their professional pursuits as climate deniers despite actually accepting that climate change would bring major disruption to life on Earth.

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Thurs 12:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:00PM(EST) | Thurs 1:30PM(EST)
Thurs 2:00PM(EST) | Thurs 3:15PM(EST) | Thurs 3:30PM(EST) | Thurs 5:00PM(EST)

Thursday Feb 13 – 5:00PM(EST)

Ingress – To Infinity And Beyond
Live Talk’n’Demo

For those curious about Ingress there will be a Live Talk’n’Demo by Level 16 player @Lizardie
[Link only works in App], that offers a firsthand look at Ingress’s unique blend of strategy, exploration, and storytelling.

Ingress [App Store] [Google Play], developed by Niantic, is a groundbreaking augmented reality (AR) mobile game that merges the digital and physical worlds. Launched in 2013, it features two factions, the Enlightened and the Resistance, battling to control “Exotic Matter” (XM), a mysterious energy tied to real-world locations called portals.

Players, or Agents, capture, link, and control portals to create fields of influence, requiring strategy, teamwork, and exploration. Portals are often landmarks or public art, encouraging players to discover their surroundings.

The game fosters a strong community, with meetups, missions, and large-scale Anomaly events. Its immersive sci-fi narrative and real-world integration have made it a pioneer in AR gaming, inspiring a loyal fanbase and even a Netflix animated series, Ingress: The Animation.

Join In The Fun! Experience the World of Ingress!

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Speaker Q&A

Wed Feb 12

Thurs Feb 13

Fri Feb 14

Sat Feb 15

Fri 11:00AM(EST) |  Fri 2:00PM(EST) | Fri 3:00PM(EST) | Fri 3:15PM(EST)

Friday Feb 14 – 11:00AM(EST)

Master Reviews Gunpla
Live Talk’n’Demo

Hi, my name is Patrick, and I am a Video Editor, Streamer, YouTuber and Model Kit Builder.

I have been video editing since I was in high school, primarily music videos using clips from tv-shows and anime. I have been an editor with the ReelHeARTFestivalGroup for almost 2 years and I have been loving the experience.

I have a passion for narrative driven media and do my best to show case that within my edits. I went to school for 3D Animation at Lynn University and graduated with a bachelor’s in fine arts back in 2018.

Outside of video editing and animation, I have been Building Models kits for the past 13 years as a hobby and for the past two and a half years have made media through my YouTube and Twitch channel in which I both review, speed builds and other various content on.

The model kits that I primarily focus my channel on are Gundam Plastic Model kits or Gunpla for short. Gundam model kits are robots plastic model kits based on the robots from the Gundam franchise which has over 45 years of media and is still airing new series till this day.

Click On the Zoom Image Above or HERE To Join Us On Zoom for The Speaker Q&A

Fri 11:00AM(EST) |  Fri 2:00PM(EST) | Fri 3:00PM(EST) | Fri 3:15PM(EST)

Friday Feb 14 – 2:00PM(EST)

Breakups Are Always Hard – 00:04:54
World Premiere
Jono Hunter – Canada – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Short Film, Best Webisode or WebSeries Film

Synopsis A doctor goes through one of the toughest moments of his life: losing his beloved patient.

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Fri 11:00AM(EST) |  Fri 2:00PM(EST) | Fri 3:00PM(EST) | Fri 3:15PM(EST)

Friday Feb 14 – 3:00PM(EST)

Forward Smash – 00:08:59
Regional Premiere
Karen Aristegui – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Short Documentary, Best Gamer Film

Synopsis Six friends reunite to relive their younger gaming days. As their lives diverge their gaming friendship remains their binding thread

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  • Keywords #Documentary #Gamers #Melee #Nintendo #SuperSmashBros #MarioBros #GameCube #GameGirl #GameBoy

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Fri 11:00AM(EST) |  Fri 2:00PM(EST) | Fri 3:00PM(EST) | Fri 3:15PM(EST)

Friday Feb 14 – 3:15PM(EST)

>>Official Closing Film <<

Reel Hard – 01:21:00
Regional Premiere
Jon Mancinetti – United States – English
>>In Attendance via Zoom!

Nominated Best Feature Film,  Best Actress – Vancie Vega as “Lucille Lincoln”, Best Actor Lance Allen as “Cade Huntley”

Synopsis Cade Huntley, cinema sleuth, specializes in cases within the film industry. When a mythical artifact from an old film goes missing, he must prove he has the skills to crack the case. A laugh-out-loud, fun-filled homage to 90s comedies.

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A

Wed Feb 12

Thurs Feb 13

Fri Feb 14

Sat Feb 15

Saturday, Feb 15 – 12:ooPM(EST)
GeekFestUniverse Award Ceremony

Live Zoom Event

Click On the BLUE Zoom Image Above To Join Us On Zoom for The Filmmaker Q&A