A World of Dark Comedy 7

A World of Dark Comedy 7 · R18+

Programme

11 short films, in screening order.

Still from Bite, or Bark

01

Bite, or Bark

Austria / 14:40

Ivy is dog-sitting Charlie for a friend during what’s supposed to be a calm weekend in Vienna — a city she doesn’t know. When Charlie unexpectedly dies, Ivy panics: she can’t reach her friend, and the body needs to get to a vet before it starts to smell. She zips Charlie into a suitcase and heads out, only for a stranger to snatch it and shove her to the ground before she can react. As she picks herself up, her friend finally calls. She answers — “Hello?” — and has no idea where to even begin.

  • Director, Writer & Producer – David B. Carey
  • Cast – Lena Rose, Max Zinnenburg +
Image from Bite, or BarkImage from Bite, or Bark
Still from The Inheritance

02

The Inheritance

VIC / 6:19

A dysfunctional family gathers to claim an inheritance nobody wants.

  • Director & Writer – KURAI
  • Cast – Seth Kannof, Georgia Balloch, Joe Lole +
Image from The InheritanceImage from The Inheritance
Still from Killing Time

03

Killing Time

New Zealand / 12:40

When a zombie apocalypse hits, Jessie and Mike finally confess their love, only for Jessie to be bitten while saving Mike’s life. With just five hours left before she turns, she asks him the unthinkable: “If you loved me, you would kill me.” But can he do what she’s asked of him? Even as a zombie, she’s still the love of his life. Can he be the person she desperately needs? A darkly funny horror romance about love’s ultimate sacrifice.

  • Director & Writer – Karl Williams
  • Producer – Matt Downey
  • Cast – Laine Abrahams, Sam Page +
Image from Killing Time
Still from Just Men

04

Just Men

UK / 7:56

James and Chris are two best friends. Chris has some troubles with his girlfriend. James doesn’t want to go to his cousin’s funeral alone. Neither of them are mature enough to have an adult conversation about it, but they’ll have to try if they want their friendship to stay intact.

  • Director & Writer – Timur Almazov
  • Producer – Ellie Lomas
  • Cast – James Anite & Jack Flammiger
Still from The Exterminator

05

The Exterminator

Spain / 7:00

Is there a paranormal entity that has entered your home? There is only one man who can help you.

  • Director, Writer & Co-producer – Esteve Gomez Pena
  • Co-producer – Victoria Garcia Bano
  • Cast – Attila Kiss, Jon Odri +
Image from The ExterminatorImage from The Exterminator
Still from Lemon Squeezy

06

Lemon Squeezy

Norway / 11:42

When the hopelessly clumsy Erik accidentally drives his vintage Ford Taunus onto his wife’s head, a simple mishap spirals into a chain of absurd disasters. As panic, bad decisions and crushed faces pile up, an unexpected romance emerges from the wreckage – proving that sometimes true love arrives in the most unlikely ways.

  • Director & Writer – Anders Teig
  • Producer – John Kaare Hoversholm
  • Cast – Calle Hellevang-Larsen, Cecilie Svendsen, Sigurd Sele +
Image from Lemon SqueezyImage from Lemon Squeezy
Intermission
Still from Untouched

07

Untouched

UK / 12:00

Brendan’s marriage is quietly falling apart. Craving intimacy, he enters a VR world looking for someone to talk to but is matched with Summer, a femme-fatale party girl who eats men like him for breakfast…

Untouched is a story about lonely people seeking connection anywhere except the place they’re most afraid to look.

  • Director & Writer – Simon Drew
  • Producers – Arnaldo Stafa & Narjes Golaftab
  • Cast – James Arden, Mady Ambus +
Still from Glory Hole

08

Glory Hole

Spain / 15:00

Borja finds a glory hole in a nightclub bathroom. He hesitates, but ultimately decides to try it. After a while, he realises he can’t get his penis out of the hole. At that moment, Borja will have to face his destiny in the most unlikely place, a destiny that seems already written.

  • Director & Producer – Andoni Fernandez
  • Cast – Lander Otaola, Veronica Casulleras
Image from Glory Hole
Still from Manus Erectus

09

Manus Erectus

France / 6:47

A man with a somewhat unusual problem goes to see a somewhat unusual doctor.

Manus Erectus is an absurd chamber comedy, both funny and touching.

  • Director – Leo Natta
  • Writers – Leo Natta & Pascal Girardet
  • Producers – Leo Natta, Maxime-Oliver Rousseau & Raphael Tavernier
  • Cast – Pascal Girardet & Raphael Tavernier
Image from Manus Erectus
Still from To Bind, or Not to Bind

10

To Bind, or Not to Bind

NSW / 9:31

Daniel feels overwhelmed by connection and wants to cut off all ties before dying. He enlists Andrew’s help, but every time they try to proceed, Daniel recalls another forgotten obligation — from a gym membership to a Netflix subscription. Their plan dissolves into a loop of delays and deflections.

  • Director, Writer & Co-producer – Qikai Zhou
  • Co-producer – Emma Cochram
  • Cast – Connor Shepard, Saxon Flannagan +
Image from To Bind, or Not to BindImage from To Bind, or Not to Bind
Still from Uncle Artoo

11

Uncle Artoo

UK / 10:06

In his later years, Nosferatu has become a foster carer for children. That seems like a good idea.

  • Director & Writer – Zoe Whittaker
  • Producers – Charlotte Brownlee, Zoe Whittaker & Lucy Jessica
  • Cast – Daniel Weyman, Dylan Smith +
Image from Uncle ArtooImage from Uncle Artoo