District 9 is coming like an extraterrestrial freight train, and we couldn’t be more excited as it nears wide release on August 14th. The VFS connections on this film run deep – to begin with, it’s the brainchild of director/co-writer/wunderkind and 3D Animation & Visual Effects graduate Neill Blomkamp.

Likewise, many, many other alumni were a part of the film’s production, with about 25 VFS grads behind the scenes, including Visual Effects Executive Producer Shawn Walsh and co-writer (and Writing grad) Terri Tatchell. District 9 is a perfect illustration of Vancouver’s growing role as a VFX powerhouse, and VFS’s place within it.

Beyond all the VFS connections, the film simply looks incredible – an intense, gritty, and great-looking exploration of tough issues. The film screened at Comic Con in San Diego recently, where both Neill and the film’s producer, Peter Jackson, were on hand. The word from San Diego is glowing.

You can expect a lot more District 9 coverage on the VFS Blog in the coming week and beyond. We have lots planned, and some exclusive insights. Stay tuned!

Here’s a small sample of some of the early buzz:

From ComingSoon.net: “Every once in a while a great sci-fi film comes along that turns the genre on its head. This felt like one of those films.”

Variety: “This grossly engrossing speculative fiction bears Jackson’s blood-splattered fingerprints but also heralds first-time feature director Neill Blomkamp as a nimble talent to watch.”

The Hollywood Reporter: “District 9 is smart, savvy filmmaking of the highest order.”

SCI FI Wire: “The consensus: [Comic Con audience members] were pleased that the duo had delivered an intelligent sci-fi flick that had a message mixed in with the action.”

Ain’t It Cool News: “District 9 is a landmark film that will [hereafter] be spoken of alongside such films as Aliens, The Thing, and 2001.”

For background (and more buzz) here’s a great write-up and interview in the L.A. Times.

Stay tuned!