World Cinema Short Film Showcase
Tech Check
Northern UK Premiere
Written and Directed by Zlatelina Tsokova – Bulgaria, 2024, 3 minutes
Content Warning: Claustrophobia
Anxiety spirals out of control, escalating into a train apocalypse.
Valley of Souls
Exclusive Manchester Screening
Written and Directed by Edileuza Penha de Souza and Santiago Dellape, Co-Written by Davi Mattos – Starring Deusenir Santana, Luan Vinícius, Doroty Marques, Romes Santos – Brazil, 2023, 15 minutes
Content Warning: Child endangerment, abduction
A black family tries to defend their land against invaders but gets caught between a mischievous witch and a tortured spirit eager for revenge.
Mond Appétit
UK Premiere
Directed by Sjoerd de Bont, Written by Jeroen van der Zee – Starring Lisanne Hoefnagels, Sanne Stikkel, Perry Mulder, Judie Rekelhof – Netherlands, 2024, 6 minutes
Content Warning: Dentistry threat, child endangerment
As a child, you believe your mother will always come to your rescue. But when twelve-year-old Zoë wakes up trapped in a terrifying place, moments away from being tortured by a horrific monster, her mother is simply too busy finishing an important business call to really notice.
Upadana (Offering)
Written and Directed by Shehan Jude Fernando – Sri Lanka, 2024, 1 minute
In the land of Sindas, an alternate reality of ancient Sri Lanka, a young prince is denied his ancestral wealth. With the help of a forbidden ritual he tries to summon a demon that will do his bidding. But all rituals require an offering...
Limbo
Written and Directed by Kevin Meffre – Starring Solann – France, 2025, 16 minutes
Content Warning: Flashing images, suicide, grief
It’s her. She’s the one. She’s everything.
Perfect Wall
UK Premiere
Written and Directed by Sea-Hoon Jeon – Starring Tae-kap Moon – Korea, 2024, 13 minutes
Content Warning: OCD
Symmetrical stiffness Perfectionism artist Oh Ju-bom's perfect daily life begins to distort.
Evil Dinner
Written and Directed by Jose Murzia – Starring Fernando Navarro – Spain, 2024, 6 minutes
On a Friday night, a young man immerses himself in his world of Heavy metal and excesses, relaxing at home. But everything changes when a mysterious shipment arrives at your door in the shape of an innocent pizza box.
The Outsider
World Premiere
Written and Directed by Miruna Stanciu, Co-Written by Razvan Mocanu and Andrei Stefan – Starring Miruna Stanciu – Romania, 2023, 5 minutes
They say "Brilliant things happen in calm minds." But what happens in a mind that is not? A late evening meditation becomes a horrifying premonition. And the worst part is, she is not alone.
Pause
Directed by Yeter Çiçek, Written by Onur Cansız – Starring Adile Aran, Fatma Akyol – Turkey, 2024, 4 minutes
Two young women go camping together. They watch a film they shouldn't watch. There's an evil spirit that comes out of the film they watch.
Zar
Written and Directed by Daler Murzagali – Starring Asset Imangaliyev, Ayim Kulmeshan, Zhuldyz Yerbolat - Kazakhstan, 2024, 10 minutes
Content Warning: Child sexual abuse, self harm
A schoolgirl becomes the target of her sinister music teacher, who wields a mystical kobyz that allows him to assault his victims from afar.
La Console
Written and Directed by Simon Plante – Starring Dominic Rustam, Thomas Vallières – Canada, 2024, 13 minutes
Content Warning: Flashing images, body horror
Seeking to appear better to his employer, a young man sees his performance increase when he found a strange and unique video game console.