“AI-pocalypse,” a stunning, mind-bending new sci-fi short film from Lin Sun, a film directing student at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, continues to earn praises from the general audience weeks after Dust, a sci-fi brand that presents thought-provoking feature films, short films, series and podcasts, premiered the show on YouTube.
“Bring on the future! This is the kind of ambitious sci-fi vision I love encountering,” FirstShowing.net’s Alex Billington writes.
Lin collaborated with Xu Jiao in the film in 2018. That year, the sci-fi short won the Best Asian-American Jury Award from the American Directors Guild during DGA’s Student Festival, and the Best Sci-Fi Award from the Los Angeles Film Awards and the Independent Film Awards.
“AI-pocalypse” was officially selected for the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, Chicago International Type Film Festival, North Loughwood Film Festival, Fargo Science Fiction Film Festival, and Jelly Film Festival.
The film tells the story of a self-conscious AI being who goes to the 4th dimension to fix human kind’s future. Jiao Xu stars as Sonia, joined by Arthur Roberts and John Henry Richardson.
“The visuals in this are impressive for something made on a small scale,” Billington continues. “If this is only the first film Lin Sun has made, then I cannot wait to see what else he makes.”
Lin Sun works directly with screenwriter Ross LaManna, of the “Rush Hour” series, director Bobby Roth and Oscar nominated director Matia Karrell. Lin’s work has been nominated and won awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Editing and Best Photography at several film festivals.
Lin was deeply inspired by Jackie Chan since age 7, leading him directly to the film industry. At the age of 15, Sun Lin shot his first short film and served as a screenwriter, director, actor and editor. After that, he knew he wanted to be a director.
In 2015, Lin came to ArtCenter to pursue his dream of film. His short film works gained popularity leading to scholarships from the ArtCenter Film Department and Huace Film and Television Corporation, one of the largest film companies in China.
Also in 2018, he wrote and directed the Lamborghini LP-700 advertisement for CJ Auto, the largest Chinese auto company in Los Angeles.
In 2019, he and Hollywood screenwriter Ross La mana and Bobby Ross flew to San Francisco, to work with Samsung’s Korean Product Design Team and European Management Team. Lin wrote and created storyboards helping Samsung promote its next-generation products.
Lin has directed more than ten short films and commercials since 2014. He has won dozens of international film festival awards, has extensive experience in filming and commercial negotiation, and believes that film is a bridge linking national cultures. He is eager to make his own contributions to the world of film through his combination of traditional Chinese elements and American storytelling.
For more about Lin Sun, visit his website, www.linsunfilm.com.
