2025 Festival
2 Nominations

The Birdwatcher

Runtime: 13:40 Genre:

Synopsis

Investigators visit the site of a strange disappearance – a solitary birdwatching hut, deep in the forest. This story is about the dangers of cutting ourselves off from ‘the other’; that which we choose not to engage with or understand. It’s a look at the insipid repetition that creeps into our lives when we shun diversity and connection. This is a tale of someone so lost in another time that they can never make it back to reality, and those who seek to help but are only dragged down with them.

Fear of the unknown can become so ingrained and insidious that it becomes an inherent need that begs to be replenished – as we cut ourselves off from other cultures and make our world smaller, we only pivot to find new evils within our communities, locked in a futile cycle of creating fresh monsters as a distraction from our own shortcomings and responsibilities. A gripping, cinematic expedition into that darkness, the film serves as a warning about isolating ourselves from a greater world that requires us to learn and listen on a regular basis.

Cast & Crew

Directed by
Ryan Mackfall
Produced by
Kingsley Marshall
Written by
Lachlan Marks
Cast
Craig Russell
Mary Woodvine
Rimca Karmakar
Kevin Horsham

Film Details

Project Type
Short
Runtime
13:40
Genre(s)
Horror
Language
Cornish, English

Production Details

Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Country of Filming
United Kingdom
Shooting Format
Digital
Film Color
Color

Creator / Status

First-time Filmmaker
No
Student Project
No

Festival & Release

Festival Edition
2025

Awards / Nominations

Nomination
Best Cinematography
The Birdwatcher
2025
Nomination
Best Score
The Birdwatcher
2025

Screening took place

UK (GMT) Time
MAY
17
Session No.
1
Session Started
10:00
Played at
10:14
Session Finished
11:20