Nickel Independent Film Festival
SAmple of the email you get when you sign up for diy scifi

SAmple of the email you get when you sign up for diy scifi

The 2026 DIY Sci-Fi has officially started! If you're curious to see the email that goes out when you sign up (do that here: https://nickelfestival.com/challenges/diyscifi), here you are:

Hi {name},

It's go time!!!! DIY Sci-Fi 2026 has officially begun. You have until June 21 at 6:30pm to finish your DIY Sci-Fi short.

YOUR PROMPTS Try to incorporate one of the following optional prompts into your film. This isn't a contest so we won't hold you to it, and there's no wrong way to use them — twist them, change them, whatever! They're really just to help you start thinking:

{prompts}

SOME ADVICE FOR FAKING A SCI-FI WITH NO BUDGET

  • We know AI video generation might be tempting, but we strongly recommend against it. Audiences can tell when it's a straight AI generated shot, and these days it comes across as hollow and boring. If you do use it, we recommend using it really sparingly and as a last resort.
  • Build your story around cool settings or props you have access to. So much of NL already looks like an alien planet!
  • Avoid setting your story in the middle of a massive intergalactic battle, you're not going to be able to fake it. Set it in the aftermath back home, or on the outskirts. Much easier and just as good story-wise.
  • Main characters require too much production value! Bring NPC-type characters to life. They can be just as interesting if you take them seriously.
  • Spend time making or tracking down great sound effects. Sound effects are some of the easiest and best ways to make a sci-fi come alive.
  • You can't show the actual alien invasion but you CAN show someone listening to someone on a phone who's describing what it looks like. The audience will build the images in their heads and the actor's reactions will tell them what it means.
  • If you make some footage and it looks totally faked, find a way to show it on a small screen and shoot it that way. Glitchy small screens help sell it.
  • Use practical effects and handmade props! Audiences hate obvious CGI or AI but forgive obviously handmade stuff. Lean into the jank! Check out these links to see how far you can take it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjsFAZWnA00&t=121s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6KCuN4ieB8
  • Try forced perspective to make things look bigger or smaller. If the Lord of the Rings movies used it why can't you?
  • Make one great sci-fi prop and have your actor use it casually. In this sci-fi world special props are not special to them.
  • You don't need a full space suit. Shoot just the gloves and the visor reflection, not the whole thing. The audience will fill in the blanks with what they can't see. (Jaws' Law!)
  • Long and McQuade rents fog machines! Backlight and haze is basically the whole genre. Point a strong lamp towards the camera and shoot your actors in silhouette and it's an instant space movie.

REMEMBER, AS ALWAYS

  • It's for fun! It's not a contest.
  • You can submit anonymously if you want.
  • It doesn't have to be good. It just has to be DONE!

SUBMITTING YOUR FILM You have until Saturday, June 21 at 6:30 PM NDT. We prefer MOV or MP4 files, and 1080p is fine. Upload link: https://nickelfestival.com/challenges/diyscifi/submit

DIY SCI-FI RULES

  • Writing, shooting, and editing must take place between June 11 and June 21.
  • Films can be a maximum of 5 minutes long, including titles and credits.
  • Pick one of your prompts and incorporate it into your film in some way.
  • To qualify for the screening, upload by 6:30 PM on Saturday, June 21.
  • Get permission for any locations, subjects, audio, or stock footage.
  • All ages. Participants under 18 need parental or guardian consent.
  • Take care of everyone on your crew! You are responsible for their safety and well being.

POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA Want the pressure to finish? Tell your friends. Tag #DIYSciFi or #Nickel2026 and we'll cheer you on.

FREE SOUND EFFECTS & MUSIC LINKS Every year Sonniss gives away 10-30GB of professional SFX libraries, royalty-free for commercial use, no attribution required. This link has several years' worth: https://sonniss.com/gameaudiogdc/

For music, this is a huge catalogue with lots of tension/ambient/synth cues, CC-BY: free with credit. https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

Need cool drone sounds? Don't let the cute robot deceive you, this old iOS app for $2 is EXCELLENT: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bebot-robot-synth/id300309944

A big curated list of free software, tools, and resources for filmmakers: https://github.com/adammakesfilm/creative-resources

If you have any questions, just hit reply.

Have so much fun!!! The public screening will happen on Friday, June 26 at 7pm at the LSPU Hall!

— Elling and the Nickel Crew

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