Fatal Futures Short Films - Dead Northern 2026 Film Festival

The Pigs Underneath (Directed by Charlie Dennis) 

Selected by the prestigious 'No Drama' scheme operated by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, Charlie Dennis presents 'The Pigs Underneath', a terrifying, excellently confrontational and dystopian take on the socioeconomic exploitation of traditionally industrial areas of the UK. Akin to a Black Mirror episode on steroids is a film that follows a working-class community who are bound into a deadly, sanctioned contract simply to survive. Starring in this feature-worthy short is an award-winning ensemble cast including performers Josh Tedeku, Vinette Robinson and Rochenda Sandall. 

Hunter (Directed by Pavlos Sifakis) 

The derelict spaces, absent of the life they once bore witness to and the tangible aura of suffering, form the world that 'Hunter' survives in. This short film, which homes in on nihilistic societal collapse and a bleak, horrific situation, sees a father (Tassos Dimitropoulos) and daughter (Elpida Mpelimpasaki) navigate an abandoned building in an attempt to hunt for prey, only to find themselves trapped in a cruel fight for survival. With mercy being scarce and help non-existent, Hunter studies the weakened lines of human morality.  

Downsized (Directed by Ed Willey) 

It's software engineer Raymond's (Liam Fleming) last day of employment. It's also his last day to salvage what is left of his digitised wife before being caught by his insufferable coworker (Neil Linpow). Ed Willey's dystopian thriller 'Downsized' incorporates razor-sharp, dark satire of the contemporary tech-obsessed world with a sinister story to create a short film that is not just well-made and polished, but also rather thought-provoking and entertaining all in one. 

After Glow (Directed by Aaran McKenzie) 

Aaran McKenzie's background in music, notably from his time as founding member of the band 'While She Sleeps', concocts a unique backdrop of cinematic rhythm that makes for powerful visual and auditory displays. 'After Glow' poses an impossible question: what would you do to see your deceased loved ones again? For Millie (Isabella Percival), she is willing to take a banned capsule that reunites its users with the dead, however, what she comes across is something of pure horror. Told through a series of events that layer metaphorical meaning and menace is the haunting and intriguing After Glow. 

Sleep Call (Directed by Richer Huynh) 

'Sleep Call' works upon a damningly horrific truth of the contemporary world: despite the increase in technology, with everyone and anything being readily available, society has never been lonelier. The film stars director Richer Huynh as a lonely Gen Zer who seeks company in the form of an online chat server. He wades his way through a slew of time-wasters before stumbling upon Lily, an eventual partner with whom he forms an intimate connection that turns highly neurotic. Deeply immersive, unsettling and nefariously timed with its chilling conclusion, it is truly astonishing that Sleep Call is Huynh's directorial debut.

Dance the Light Away (Directed by Annabelle Snelling)

With enough meat on its bones for an adapted feature, Annabelle Snelling presents 'Dance the Light Away', an energetic, fast-paced and neon-crammed short horror film. Citizens of Aotearoa, New Zealand, have been banished into a life of literal darkness, living under draconian measures of zero lights to deter giant mutated crane flies donned "Craneys". Recklessly rebelling, a group of friends throw a 'lights-out party'; however, a swarm of gargantuan Craneys have other plans. Creature feature frights, lurid infectious humour and a spectacle of colour collide to create this unmissable short. 

Catch the must-see 'Fatal Futures' short film block at this year's Dead Northern Film Festival on Saturday 26th September at 14:45

You can grab your tickets to watch Dead Reset at this years Festival here!

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