PRESS RELEASES › SFFILM Celebrates Project Hail Mary with the Sloan Science in Cinema Prize
SFFILM Celebrates Project Hail Mary with the Sloan Science in Cinema Prize
Academy Award-winning directors and producers Phil Lord & Chris Miller and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Drew Goddard will be joined by the film’s key creative teams alongside the astrometric systems modeling engineer for an exclusive post-screening discussion exploring the art and science behind Project Hail Mary
San Francisco, CA—September 30, 2026—Today, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, SFFILM announced it will present the prestigious Sloan Science in Cinema Prize to Academy Award-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s warm and wonderful Project Hail Mary. The Sloan Science in Cinema Prize celebrates the compelling depiction of scientific themes or characters in a narrative feature film and is accompanied by a $20,000 cash prize. The special screening and event will take place at the Premier Theater at One Letterman on Wednesday, October 28 at 6:30 pm.
Anne Lai, SFFILM’s Executive Director, explained how support from the Sloan Foundation inspires audiences to understand how intimately science and technology influence our lives, both real and imagined. “Project Hail Mary paints one of the most impossible and imaginative dilemmas in space. And what a roller coaster we get to go on. This deeply entertaining and emotional film never skirts the scientific process, but instead fully embraces it at every turn. This is exactly what the Sloan Science in Cinema Initiative at SFFILM aims to do: celebrate movies that encourage audiences to appreciate and understand science.”
“We’re delighted to award the Sloan Science in Cinema Prize to Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s Project Hail Mary, an endearing and inventive adaptation of Andy Weir’s best-selling novel,” said Doron Weber, Vice President and Program Director at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. “What at first glance may seem like fantasy/science fiction becomes a showcase for real scientific discovery, as the film’s protagonists use physics, astronomy, and microbiology to solve existential problems facing a variety of species. Project Hail Mary joins over 900 science and film projects supported by the Sloan Foundation, including previous SFFILM Sloan Science in Cinema Prize winners like Oppenheimer, Twisters, Don’t Look Up, Hidden Figures and The Martian.”
The Sloan Science in Cinema Prize program will feature a special onstage conversation with Academy Award-winning directors and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Drew Goddard, Academy Award-winning VFX Supervisor Paul Lambert, Co-VFX Supervisor Mag Sarnowska, and Academy Award-nominated and winning Sound Designers/Supervising Sound Editors Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn (E Squared) alongside Dr. Ron Radeztsky, an astrophysical scientist and plasma physicist who served as the astrometric systems modeling engineer for the film. SFFILM’s Director of Programming Jessie Fairbanks is excited to celebrate the art and science of Project Hail Mary with this special event. She said, “Project Hail Mary is a thrilling reminder that science and curiosity can be the heart of a great adventure. Phil, Chris, and Drew have created a highly entertaining film that makes scientific discovery feel both joyful and accessible. Buoyed by Ryan Gosling’s effortless charm and James Ortiz’s extraordinary performance as Rocky, Project Hail Mary proves that intelligent spectacle can be a delight and an inspiration.”
SFFILM Presents is the place for singular films and thoughtful, entertaining on-stage conversations with world-class talent moderated by SFFILM’s programming experts. SFFILM and the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco will host a 50th concert anniversary screening of Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz on October 21. On November 2, SFFILM Presents features the directorial debut of Jordan Firstman’s Club Kid at The Castro Theatre. The 12th Doc Stories, SFFILM’s annual fall festival featuring the year’s most vital nonfiction films, runs November 5–8. That program will be announced on October 14.
ABOUT THE FILM
A science teacher (Ryan Gosling) wakes up alone on a spaceship. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing Earth’s sun, and realizes that an unexpected friendship may be the key. From Amazon MGM Studios, the film stars Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, and Lionel Boyce. Streaming on Prime Video.
SUPPORTERS + SPONSORS
Support for SFFILM’s year-round programming is made possible by our Board of Directors, whose leadership and generosity empower artists, audiences, and the future of independent film.
This program is made possible with generous support from The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
TICKETS + MEMBER BENEFITS
Tickets will go on sale to SFFILM Members on Wednesday, September 30, at 10 am at sffilm.org. The online box offices will open to the general public on Friday, October 2, at 10 am. Ticket prices for General Admission are $25, and $20 for SFFILM Members. Senior, student, and ADA are $23. All tickets are subject to a $1.50 service fee.
VENUE
SFFILM Presents the Sloan Science in Cinema Prize: Project Hail Mary will take place on Wednesday, October 28, at 6:30 pm at the Premier Theater at One Letterman, located at 1 Letterman Drive, # B in San Francisco.
To learn more about their accessibility resources, parking, and transit, go to https://sffilm.org/venue/premier-theater/
ACCESSIBILITY
SFFILM is committed to providing accessible experiences at all events, whether in-person or online. Event pages will be updated with accessibility information as it becomes available, which may be after tickets go on sale. sffilm.org/accessibility
This film will be presented with closed captions and audio description available. The Premier Theater at One Letterman is equipped with ten closed captioning, audio description, and assisted listening devices. To request ADA accommodations, including ASL interpretation, please contact ada@sffilm.org.
For more information about accessibility at specific venues or programs, please visit sffilm.org/accessibility or contact ada@sffilm.org.
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a New York based, philanthropic, not-for-profit institution that makes grants in three areas: research in science, technology, and economics; quality and diversity of scientific institutions; and public engagement with science. Sloan’s program in Public Understanding of Science and Technology, directed by Doron Weber, aims to enrich people’s lives through a keener appreciation of our increasingly scientific and technological world and to humanize the people who work as scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. The goal is to integrate the two cultures of science and the humanities by supporting an array of original works such as books, radio, television, film, theater, and new media. For more information visit sloan.org or follow @SloanPublic on Instagram or X.
SFFILM Sloan Science in Cinema Prize
The Sloan Science in Cinema Prize celebrates the compelling depiction of scientific themes or characters in a narrative feature film. Presented through a partnership between SFFILM and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, this annual honor carries a cash prize and celebrates cinema that unites the expertise of science and technology with the art of storytelling. To inspire deeper understanding and spark curiosity in the audience, the celebration includes a conversation featuring the film’s creators and members of the scientific community to discuss the inclusion of science in storytelling. Past recipients of the Prize include Ridley Scott’s The Martian (2015);Theodore Melfi’s Hidden Figures (2016); Damien Chazelle’s First Man (2018); Tom Harper’s The Aeronauts (2019); Francis Lee’s Ammonite (2020); Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up (2021); Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer (2023); Lee Isaac Chung’s Twisters (2025); and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025).
ABOUT SFFILM
For nearly 70 years, SFFILM has been transforming the world through the creativity and inspiration of film. As the Bay Area’s premier film institution since 1957, SFFILM cultivates an enduring and vibrant film culture, expertly connecting singular storytellers with passionate audiences. With world-class festivals, accessible youth programs, and robust filmmaker support, SFFILM champions cinema as a force for connection, creativity, and change. Our annual film festivals include the San Francisco International Film Festival and Doc Stories. The SFFILM Presents series and Family programming give Bay Area audiences early, exclusive access to film events all year. SFFILM’s youth Education program empowers over 15,000 local students and educators with learning opportunities that foster media literacy, global citizenship, and a lifelong love of movies. And, SFFILM propels the careers of independent filmmakers from the Bay Area and beyond through vital grants, residencies, and diverse creative development services in our Artist Development initiative.
For more information visit sffilm.org
This press release is available online at sffilm.org/press/releases
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