The annual Beep Boop, Beep Boop science fiction film festival will return to the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas this summer for its fourth year. The four-day event is scheduled to run from Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, July 26, 2026. The upcoming festival schedule features a total of 12 films and related cinematic events at the Bethlehem venue.

The event lineup showcases various themes within the science fiction genre, including extraterrestrial narratives and stories about futuristic societies involving human and robotic coexistence. Attendees will also have opportunities to hear perspective directly from some of the featured filmmakers. Anthony DeSanctis, ArtsQuest senior programming manager for cinema, noted that the selections span classic films, cult favorites, and new stories from regional directors.

A primary highlight of the festival is the regional premiere of the drama Between Two Waves. The plot follows a woman who returns home after the death of her mother and uncovers hidden secrets within the house. Following the screening, directors Mark Sposato and Courtney Sposato will lead a live question and answer session with the audience.

Courtney Sposato is a Lehigh Valley native whose prior professional credits include work with Paramount, Showtime Networks, and Google’s Creative Lab. Her filmmaking and production work has been featured at the Sundance Film Festival, earning Emmy nominations and a Clio award. This local connection highlights the festival’s focus on regional talent alongside broader genre selections.

Individual tickets and full festival passes for the four-day event are currently available for public purchase. All screenings and filmmaker talkbacks will take place on-site at the arts facility in Bethlehem.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Schedule

Thursday, July 23: For the Love of Film 

• 7:30 p.m. – Blade Runner: The Final Cut followed by a Q&A talkback with Gregory Reihman, Vice Provost for Arts and Libraries at Lehigh University. 

Friday, July 24: Friday Night Camp 

• 7:00 p.m. – Mars Attacks 
• 9:30 p.m. – Barbarella 
• 11:30 p.m. – The Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring a live performance from the Spaced Out Sensations shadowcast 

Saturday, July 25: Sci-Fi Milestones 

• 1:00 p.m. – Forbidden Planet (70th Anniversary) featuring a special introduction from the PA Shakespeare Festival highlighting how the sci-fi classic reimagines Shakespeare’s The Tempest 

• 3:30 p.m. – Logan’s Run (50th Anniversary) 

• 6:30 p.m. – Aliens: Director’s Cut (40th Anniversary) 

• 9:45 p.m. – Metropolis (2001) (25th Anniversary) 

Sunday, July 26: Community Day 

• 12:00 p.m. – 48-Hour Film Challenge: Sci-Fi Edition – Finished Films Screening 

• 2:00 p.m. – Between Two Waves featuring a Q&A with Directors Courtney & Mark Sposato 

• 4:30 p.m. – Sunday Night Staff Picks: Treasure Planet selected by Production Manager Scott Dean 

• 7:00 p.m. – Sunday Night Staff Picks: District 9 selected by Customer Experience Supervisor Nick Carrodo