Science Fiction in the Park 2025: Vienna Open Air Cinema Attracts with These Films

When: June 9 - 14, 2025
Where: Bruno-Kreisky-Park, 1050 Vienna
Time: Film starts at 21:00

FATAL ERROR (?) - Artificial Intelligence in Fantastic Film

A theme that is repeatedly found in fantastic films is the exploration and questioning of the influence of new technologies on society and humanity. Artificial intelligence is already omnipresent in our daily lives and almost indispensable. Scientists assume that a human-thinking and acting AI is fundamentally conceivable. An AI, as seen in many films in the form of a virtual protagonist or a protagonist in the form of computer systems or humanoid robots. This year, SciFi in the Park will show six films that deal with this topic: from robots to supercomputers and computer programs to a philosophizing bomb.

“I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that”, HAL 9000

Even Stephen Hawking warned of the dangers that AI could pose to humanity. "The development of full artificial intelligence could mean the end of the human race," said Stephen Hawking in a BBC interview. But whether and when it will actually become a reality is the question. Because of all this, it is no wonder that filmmakers are fascinated by artificial intelligence – and explore the topic cinematically. Since early 2023, chatbots have been on everyone's lips and show us what is possible. Whether this is a curse or a blessing remains to be seen.

The "SCIFI IN THE PARK" has been the first and only science fiction open-air cinema festival in Vienna since 2007 and has a large and loyal fan base. Founded in 2007 by Wolfgang Niederwieser and the "ArchitekturRaum 5" as the "Margaretner Film Nights", the "SCIENCE FICTION IN THE PARK" has been organized and realized by the association VOLXkino since 2019.

FILM PROGRAM Science Fiction in the Park 2025 in Vienna

Film starts at 21:00

COLOSSUS – THE FORBIN PROJECT

Monday, 09.06.2025
US 1970, 100 min., Original with subtitles
Director: Joseph Sargent
Starring Eric Braeden, Susan Clark, William Schallert, Leonid Rostoff, and others.
AI: COLOSSUS, GUARDIAN
Dr. Charles Forbin has invented the supercomputer Colossus, which is supposed to take over the defense of the USA. Everything runs smoothly until Colossus detects "another system" – Guardian. Guardian is the Russian answer to Colossus and is no less perfectly constructed. The two supercomputers merge via telephone line into a single entity and take control of the entire nuclear arsenal of both superpowers. Every attempt by Forbin or the military to shut down the computers is met with a nuclear strike. Humanity has no chance to resist the will of the new rulers.
The goal of Colossus and Guardian is essentially honorable: peace on Earth. This goal is pursued with all available weapons and necessary severity. Joseph Sargent's adaptation is as effective in its execution as Colossus is in its: coldness, sterility, total surveillance – the images are just right for this type of film. The scenes in which Dr. Forbin negotiates his daily routine with Colossus – including whether and how much sex he is allowed to have – are great cinema.

GOG – SPACE STATION USA

Tuesday, 10.06.2025
US 1954, 79 min., Original Version
Director: Herbert L. Strock
with Richard Egan, Constance Dowling, Herbert Marshall, John Wengraf, and others.
AI: NOVAC, GOG & MAGOG
In a secret US government base in the desert, space travel experiments are conducted, during which a fatal accident occurs. An investigator from Washington uncovers further strange and dangerous incidents that seem to be connected to the facility's computer brain and two robots. A 1950s science fiction film that spends a lot of time showcasing the then-new technology and is therefore somewhat dry. Nonetheless, it manages to create interesting accents and implements its story in the spirit of 1950s paranoia quite well. In itself, GOG is a small, forgotten gem of 1950s science fiction film that is worth discovering.

U ARE THE UNIVERSE

Wednesday, 11.06.2025
UA/BE, 2024, 101 min., Original with Subtitles
Director: Pavlo Ostrikov
with Volodymyr Kravchuk, and others.
AI: MAXIM
The pragmatic main protagonist (Volodymyr Kravchuk brilliantly balances loneliness and egocentrism). Andriy Melnyk has the thankless job of a space trucker, dumping radioactive waste on Jupiter's moon Callisto. His only company during the eight-year tour is the onboard computer Maxim (Leonid Popadko as the straight man and resigned rationality), whose jokes do not improve the adjustable humor level. When an earthly explosion wipes out all human life, Andriy initially takes it calmly. The sarcastic solo escapades of the apathetic astronaut are among the humorous highlights of the simple scenario, which makes its spatial and personal limitations its decisive strength. However, the director shows his sense of psychological nuances when Andriy unexpectedly receives a message. Just beneath the misanthropic mask lie isolation and fear. They make the space meteorologist Catherine, who is also drifting alone through space light-years away, his last glimmer of hope in a literally infinite loneliness.

WESTWORLD

Thursday, 12.06.2025
US 1973, 88 min., Original with Subtitles
Director: Michael Crichton
with Richard Benjamin, Yul Brynner, and others.
AI: GUNSLINGER
Sometime in the not-too-distant future: In the futuristic amusement park "Delos," wealthy customers can live out their wildest fantasies. Whether winning the favor of a beautiful queen as a noble, invincible knight, celebrating lavish Roman orgies, or maintaining order as a sheriff in a rough Western town: Thanks to sophisticated technology, park guests can assume the roles they have always wanted to play. The special feature is their respective servants, adversaries, or bed companions, all portrayed by deceptively realistic and acting androids.
Businessman Peter also wants to fulfill his childhood dream and relax for a few days as a tough Western hero. He brings along his best friend John, who could use a change after a divorce. Initially, the stay in the Western town goes as hoped: A victorious duel against the equally trigger-happy and cunning Gunslinger, bloodless brawls in the saloon, and extremely liberal young ladies make the hearts of the two friends beat faster.
But soon the situation turns dramatic: A computer virus alters the programming of the robots so that they suddenly murder the amusement park guests. Gunslinger is also affected by the fatal system error. After shooting John, he pursues the fleeing Peter. The android relentlessly hunts the hopelessly outmatched human...

WARGAMES

Friday, 13.06.2025
WARGAMES
US 1982, 114 min., Original with Subtitles
Director: John Badham
with Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman, John Wood, Ally Sheedy, Barry Corbin, and others.
AI: WOPR
The 17-year-old computer hacker David accidentally accesses the new supercomputer WOPR (War Operation Plan Response) of the US defense center NORAD. What he sees on the screen he believes to be a great game, unknowingly triggering a program that simulates a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. Even when he is caught, the computer continues to work on the nuclear war as programmed. Now David is supposed to help the government stop the war. The fear of a nuclear war triggered by a computer "error" and its total senselessness as the subject of a gripping thriller, directed by action master John Badham with refreshing humor at times.
That "WarGames" can still captivate nearly 120 minutes even four decades after its premiere is certainly due in large part to the undeniably nostalgic charm that this production exudes, especially through its detailed equipment and realistic setting selection. Combined with the tongue-in-cheek references to the early attempts of a new digital generation and thus also to the beginnings of the hacker subculture itself, the 12-million-dollar thriller becomes a small piece of time history. In addition to a reunion with 8'' disks as storage media, an IMSAI 8080 as a home computer, and a telephone modem as a connection to the network, it is especially the application of hacker tricks like wardialing (for large-scale searching of poorly secured systems) and phreaking (for manipulating telephone connections) that make the lasting entertainment value of "WarGames".

MARS EXPRESS

Saturday, 14.06.2025
MARS EXPRESS
FR 2023, 88 min., Original with Subtitles
Director: Jérémie Périn
AI: CARLOS RIVERA, and others.
In the year 2200, Earth is just a slum for the unemployed, while the better society lives in the Martian capital Noctis. But the coexistence of humans, robots, and cyborgs leads to tensions. In search of a missing cybernetics student, Aline, a private detective with an alcohol problem, and the cyborg Carlos uncover a conspiracy.
Dystopian science fiction in a French animated film that not only presents attractive design ideas but also discusses the current questions of "soul" and free will of artificial intelligences in the background of the exciting detective story.
(Lars Penning)
MARS EXPRESS impresses with high visual and suspense factors and has the potential to become a modern classic. Science fiction for the advanced.

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