Olfactory-old

“Olfactory is the best kind of sci-fi short film: it walks the line between comic and nightmarish, and what begins as a romantic drama quickly turns into a reality-bending psychological thriller… a sci-fi movie with a plot that turns your mind into a pretzel knot.”
– Outer Places

“Clever, well written, well played and well filmed. …this one won (the best Dramatic Short Film) prize at the Berlin Sci-Fi Filmfest for a reason.”
– Martha’s Film Corner

“...intelligently written, smoothly executed visual presentation, skilled acting, wicked twists, and sobering message highlighting the consequences of trying to make everything perfect by less than perfect means and the high price paid for it, “Olfactory” is a fantastic piece of indie sci-fi filmmaking…”
- Kirk Fernwood, “One Film Fan”

"Olfactory is a stylish and haunting rumination on how our past experiences are crucial contributors to who we are in the present.”
- The 7th Matrix

“...with its shifting perspectives and eroding certainty of truth, Olfactory is a clever and well-executed premise which is both melancholy and disturbing... fully deserves the awards and recognition it has received.”
- Michael Flett, “Geek Chocolate"

About

Olfactory is a dramatic sci-fi short film about memories and how they never leave us. In the film, “Olfactory” is a system that allows users to re-experience memories. Brian, an app programmer, hacks the system so he can alter his memories, but in doing so, he loses his grip on his current reality.

Olfactory was co-written and directed by Christopher Piazza. It is based on a short story of the same name by Lucas Kane. The film has played at a dozen film festivals across the United States and around the world.

Christopher Piazza – Director/Co-Writer

Christopher Piazza has directed commercials for the USDA, Audi and Volkswagen. He’s directed multiple web series, including an interpretation of “Sonnet 28” for the New York Shakespeare Exchange, and a comedy pilot called No Outlet that was featured on the front page of Funny or Die. He has also directed music videos, live concerts and is the creator/director of two music webseries – Panopticon360 and All Axis Music. Piazza’s follow-up to the award winning short film Olfactory is another short film entitled Baby Won’t You Please Come Home. It stars Michelle Hurst (Orange is the New Black), Melanie Nicholls-King (The Wire) and Jazzmeia Horn (2017 Grammy Nominee for best Jazz Vocal Album).

Eli Cane – Producer

Eli’s film producer credits include: On a Knife Edge, a film for PBS about growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota; Land Rush, a film for the Why Poverty? series about industrial vs. small-scale farming in Africa; and The Market Maker for PBS/WNET about agricultural development in Ethiopia. He worked for seven formative years at Nonesuch Records, where he Executive Produced jazz trumpeter Nicholas Payton’s Into the Blue and oversaw production of over 150 albums, including a dozen or so Grammy-winners. He regularly produces episodes of the PBS show Live from the Artists Den.

Screenings and Awards

Boston Sci-Fi Festival
(World Premiere)

The Philip K. Dick Festival
(New York Premiere)

Roswell Sci-Fi Film Festival & Galacticon
(Southwest Premiere)

Dragon Con Independent Short Film Festival
(Atlanta Premiere)

Escape Velocity Film Festival
(Washington D.C. Premiere)

New Filmmakers New York
(Official Selection)

Best Shorts Online Competition
(Award of Excellence – Highest Rating)

The Zone Sci-Fan Film Festival
(10 award nominations)
(Winner – Best Actress, Molly Camp)
(Winner – Best Twist, Christopher Piazza and Lucas Kane)

The UNREAL Film Festival
(Tennessee Premiere)

The Sydney Indie Film Festival
(International Premiere)
(Nominee – Best Editing in a Short Film)

Twin Falls Film Festival
(Official Selection)
(Winner – Best Actor, Kieran Mulcare)

Berlin Sci-Fi Filmfest
(European Premiere)
(Winner – Best Dramatic Short Film)

Film Shortage
(Online premiere)
(Staff daily pick)