In the 23rd century, Earth faces annihilation from a mysterious cosmic threat. When the alien beings that are coming to help are destroyed, the fate of the planet falls into the hands of Corben Dallas (Bruce Willis), a disillusioned ex-special forces major, and Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), a powerful humanoid engineered for survival. Together, they must recover a legendary weapon capable of stopping the oncoming doom. Directed by Luc Besson, The Fifth Element is a visually stunning, high-octane sci-fi classic that blends action, humor, and style into a cinematic spectacle.

– Anton Brall

At this year’s edition of the Umeå Film Festival, we present a special section of films that all explore space’s place in cinema and our desire to journey to unknown realms beyond our own sphere. Gazing at the Stars: Film, Space, and Humanity asks what happens when we look into the unknown — and what does it reveal about ourselves? Film and the sci-fi genre have a unique ability to preview the future while challenging our perception of reality. Through this section, we hope to reflect our dreams, fears, and hopes for the future.