It’s not just mega-million dollar productions that show their filmmaker’s expertise – sometimes, fan films and fan trailers can excite just as much. Indeed, much like fanfiction, which pays tribute to the intellectual property and has a vibrant and growing community of writers, fanfilms can also vary in quality, from being poor to excellent. However, when they reach the top range of that spectrum, the results can be very compelling. A case in point are the three fan films below.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

The first pays homage to the excellent game, Deus Ex: Human Evolution. Suffice to say, the film (not terribly long at just over twelve minutes) looks fantastic, oozes with dystopian, cyberpunk atmosphere and menace.  You would also be forgiven for being reminded in no small part of an old, but similarly terrific coldly clinical movie, Gattaca. If nothing else, the film makes for a compelling watch, at best though, it may have you reaching for your old copy of the game.

Half Life 3

In the past several years, there has been one game in particular that has seemed to languish in some forgotten gaming black hole. That game, of course is Half Life 3 – or at least Half Life 2 Episode 3. Last we saw Gordon Freeman and the inimitable Alyx Vance was back in 2007, with indications that their quest would take them to frozen climes.

Since then, Valve has been tight lipped about whatever happened to the conclusion of the episodic installments, or whether instead there would be a full game to continue or conclude Gordon Freeman’s adventure. Now, a new fanmade trailer by Deviant Pictures looks good enough to be made into a full length film, or at least prompt Valve to turn the screws on finally getting us Half Life 3.  

Star Trek: Prelude to Axanar

The third and final fanfilm, Prelude to Axanar, is possibly the most ambitious one on our list, billed as a film with a serious budget of $250 000. The film – slated for release in May - will apparently be set two decades before Kirk and Spock rocked the Federation’s boat.

Prelude to Axanar, though, is just the appetiser, giving viewers a historical look at the events leading up to the Battle of Axanar, the central event of the film Axanar, which will subsequently be filmed later this year. 

What’s more, this fan/independent film, can apparently lay claim to have professionals both behind and in front of its cameras.  Even better news is that the film has already met and far exceeded its original $10 000 Kickstarter goal, raking in $70 000. For the full details, take a look at the trailer and behind the scenes video below.