CineSpace 2021

Aylin is a 30-year old woman still living at home with her mother. She escapes her oppressive life through a fantasy world by pretending to be an astronaut. She finds comfort in her only friend, a goldfish, and by submerging her head in water whenever she faces verbal and physical abuse by her mother. One day she receives a job offer through the phone, and despite resistance from her mother, decides to finally move out of her parental home to start a new life.

By copying the attitudes of astronauts before him a young man Questions what it means to be an explorer. He builds janky model rockets and tests them to see if one day he might be able to launch himself into space.

In 2019, the first all-female space walk was conducted. The plans to get more women into space, and specifically, to the South Pole of the moon are currently in motion through the Artemis Program. From the pioneer scientists to the newly inducted astronaut candidates, women are more determined than ever to create their own space, on Earth and beyond.

As the Earth warms, institutions fail and existential threats mount, these words that Carl Sagan spoke decades ago are more prophetic than ever. We invited over 40 people of different ages, ethnicities, genders and backgrounds to re-read The Pale Blue Dot and paired that with NASA and archival historical footage to revitalize this alarmingly important, yet beautiful message.

In 1983, pioneering NASA scientist Dr. Nancy Boggess was interviewed for a NASA "Space Story" audio program, in which she discussed comets and the possibility of someday collecting a physical sample. Taking that recording as a launching point, this short film combines archival footage, imagery and audio from NASA archives, along with old public domain films and original animation, all set to a hiphop beat, to contemplate the nature of comets, time, and human discovery. Why are comets important? How do they serve as time machines, revealing facts about the origins of ourselves and our solar system? What is the human impulse to explore new horizons? And what is it like for scientists to work toward discoveries that may not ultimately happen in their own careers or lifetimes? With the success of the Stardust Mission in 2006, did Dr. Boggess realize her dream?

As Carlos’ Alzheimer’s disease begins to rapidly deteriorate, he disconnects more and more from reality. This leaves him to contemplate his internal decline of consciousness as he begins to accept his soul merging with the wider universe around him.

A private party in outer space (pun intended). Following the escapades of an intrepid astronaut when no one is looking, and embarking on an interplanetary road trip to Mars, which ends with an unexpected trajectory.

Halley’s Comet’s visit is a once-in-a-generation tradition that spans from a time before the dawn of humans. Halley’s return gives us a reason to look up and wonder about the universe’s mysteries, regardless of all the fears and uncertainties on our own planet. In 2061, Halley’s Comet will be returning to our skies. Will we push science to new heights and let this celestial body teach us about our surrounding universe? Or will we succumb to our own vices and conflicts and look up at Halley’s pale streak and wonder why we didn’t do more?

On July 16, 2013, the Italian Luca Parmitano nearly drowned in his own helmet during an outing outside the space station. In this dark, silent environment, this astronaut has seen his entire life pass by before his eyes for a moment. According to him, he came close to death. After a few minutes of work, the Italian felt something strange at the level of his neck. Water entered his wetsuit, but he didn't know where it came from. He informed his colleague and Houston of this small problem and was ordered to return to the decompression chamber. Unfortunately on the way back, the volume of the liquid increased. The top of his helmet was flooded. His earphones were wet, which could have deprived him of any contact with others. Her vision, too, was altered and the risk of drowning was imminent. Luckily, he managed to keep his mouth out of the water, which saved him.

Danika video chats with her friend Amy, excited to be joining her on the space station in just a few months. But when an unexpected diagnosis disqualifies Danika from spaceflight, she reconnects with her love of engineering and begins working on a design to help the Telos Mission, which proposes to send a probe to Titan. Danika's design shows promise, and she begins working with the Telos team to complete the mission.

Apollo to Air: How NASA Engineer Frank Rudy Shaped Modern Athletic Footwear explores the inventive mind of engineer Frank Rudy. Rudy supported NASA’s Apollo Program from the 1950’s up until the completion of Apollo 11. Soon after, Rudy retired and developed a patent for an air-inflated running shoe sole: a design that utilized a technique used to manufacture Apollo space helmets.. The patent would later become the cornerstone of Nike AIR Technology, which debuted in the 1978 Nike Tailwind.

Allie, a high school student, has been struggling with remote learning since the 2020 lockdown began. On the verge of failing her Astronomy class, Allie reluctantly agrees to a video tutoring session with her teacher, Ms. Hoffman. However, tensions that emerge during the session force both women to rethink the ways they’ve been handling adversity.

The Day The Earth Smiled uses magnificent NASA footage and animations to explore the beginning of time and questions if we really are alone in this universe.

A story from the point of view of an 8 year old girl training to become a future astronaut in hopes of being the first female to step foot on the moon and explore the galaxy. It’s a story about equal opportunity and how all things are possible no matter the challenge.

The future is female talks about the brilliant women at NASA that are working on the Artemis Project and the first all female spacewalk.

It’s July 1969. The world is about to witness an event that will define an era: the launch of Apollo 11. Matt watches on with wonder from his living room. That night, he and his wife Laura embark on a surreal space odyssey that is mirrored by a passionate battle to win more space — in the bedroom. They'll need to make it through the night and back to earth together. After all, "... if we were alone, the immensity of space would really be a waste."