The Philip K. Dick European Science Fiction Film Festival has announced the award winners of its fifth annual event. The gathering saluted the legacy of novelist Philip K. Dick with a slate of independent science fiction films, nine of which were honored for their cinematic excellence. The festival was held in Lille, France from October 25-26 and in Cologne, Germany from November 1-2.

BEST PHILIP K. DICK SHORT

• It’s a Clear Day (2017)

Director: María Vázquez

Run Time/Country: 14 min, Spain

Synopsis: A woman is planning on giving a lecture on the famous science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. Everything seems like her everyday routine, except for a little excitement because of the event. But as time passes she will discover nothing is what it seems.

BEST SCIENCE FICTION SHORT

• Metta Via (2017)

Director: Warren Flanagan

Run Time/Country: 10 min, Canada

Synopsis: Set in the future, a young woman wakes up in a mysterious temple-like room and must figure out her purpose.

BEST HORROR SHORT

• The Ash: Safe Haven (2017)

Director: Marty Stalker

Run Time/Country: 17 min, UK

Synopsis: A deadly volcanic ash cloud. A 12-year-old boy besieged by the bloodthirsty infected. When the ash falls, terror rises.

BEST HORROR FEATURETTE

• Sound From the Deep (2017)

Director: Antti Laakso, Joonas Allonen

Run Time/Country: 29 min, Finland

Synopsis: An international research group is searching natural resources from the Arctic Ocean. They pick up a strange underwater sound from far north, and start to follow it to the uncharted waters. Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

BEST DOCUMENTARY

• Nazi VR (2017)

Director: David Freid

Run Time/Country: 17 min, Germany

Synopsis: The High Tech Prosecution of a WWII Nazi Guard with virtual reality.

BEST VIRTUAL REALITY

• Eclipse (2018)

Director: Aymeric Favre

Run Time/Country: 40 min, France

Synopsis: An immersive “hyper-reality” experience and a glimpse into tomorrow’s cinema. Contrary to most VR experiences dedicated to entertainment, this exhibition is a four-player interactive science fiction short film enhanced by physical effects, full body awareness and a total freedom of movements.

BEST TRAILER, TEASER OR NEW MEDIA

• APEX (2018)

Director: Stuart T. Birchall

Run Time/Country: 4 min, UK

Synopsis: Emergence of a hybrid human-alien consciousness from the void.

FRIDAY AUDIENCE AWARD

• December 17 (2016)

Director: Yuji Hariu

Run Time/Country: 15 min, Japan

Synopsis: In the near future, a family comes face to face with a dangerous secret about their sons.

SATURDAY AUDIENCE AWARD

• Tous les jours (2017)

Director: Philippe Orreindy

Run Time/Country: 14 min, France

Synopsis: A company director is under the perverse psychological influence of her superior. But is it real or is it an hallucination caused by her anguish?