Sur-REEL & Uncanny Film Fest: A New Wave for the New Year
This London-based film festival is a celebration of the surreal and uncanny, screening a stirring selection of experimental films, within the genres.
The talented filmmakers shortlisted for awards at this year’s event on December 30th share the inspiration behind their short films. We also delve into their uncanny New Year’s Resolutions, tied to their 2026 film projects.
Le Singe Bleu: Nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematographer
Director Jennifer Miville: I have always been very sensitive to images that spark the imagination: shadows, blurred images, a monster that cannot be seen. There is something more powerful than seeing it, and that is what I wanted to recreate with Le Singe Bleu. I wanted to highlight the senses, to awaken the instinctive in a timeless world. The structure of the script was based on listening to “Les marécages,” which had already been composed by author/composer Janine Fortin, long before the idea for the short film. When a visual universe began to take shape in my head, I realised that the script didn’t need dialogue. The rhythm of the short story “Le Singe Bleu” (written by Jordan Demartis, our lead actor) and this fabulous soundtrack went together perfectly. I was going to rely on the power of images and sounds.
2026: I am currently writing a feature film about the influence of the unconscious on our thoughts and behaviours in society. I have always loved entertaining and bringing people together, so in this film, that will be my primary goal, despite it being a subject that may seem heavy.
The Last Show: Nominated for Best Actor and Uncanny Mention
Writer/Producer Joe Payne: The Last Show was created as our graduation film while we were studying at Anglia Ruskin University. The film is heavily based on my own mental health challenges and was a creative way for me to process these feelings (and also a way to fulfil my desire to make an X Files influenced film). I wanted the project to be a film I could work on with my friends Regan (Director) and Jack (DoP), and as such, creating a David Lynch inspired film was the perfect vehicle for this, as he is a filmmaker who greatly inspires all of us, as lovers of surreal and genre cinema.
2026: Myself, Jack and Regan are in the process of setting up our own film production company called StaticEye Productions. So far, we have completed a sci-fi comedy for the London Community Video Archive and have projects lined up through the new year. We are trying to be as diverse as we can with the types of projects we take, from fiction films to event videography and documentaries. We even have a feature script, in a similar Lynchian vibe to The Last Show, underway. We are always on the lookout for any new and interesting projects to take part in as well!
The Abyssal Theatre: Nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Actress
Writer/director Leo Carden: I wanted to see genre films done to the extreme; in tone, story and character. Seeing films by Robert Eggers really proved that you can do this, and I could scratch all the ideas that had been wriggling in my mind.
2026: I want to make films I want to see. So, I am planning to direct a psychological office-thriller about two brothers who merge into one, and a new horror where monsters are real, and they walk behind you in dark streets.
Fractured Frame: Nominated for Best Film, Best Actress, Best Editing
Lead Actor/Writer/Director Natalie Lauren: Fractured Frame initially came about because I won a half-day hire of a photography studio during a pitching competition. When I visited, I knew the best I could get out of that opportunity would be to shoot a very short script, which made full use of the space and what they had there. Drawing on my own experiences, it felt like a perfect setting to explore difficult feelings I had about being an Actor and collaborate with some truly phenomenal emerging filmmakers I had met on the festival circuit.
2026: I will be sharing Fractured Frame nationally and internationally: maybe even going stateside for the first time! We can’t say anything yet, but it’s looking incredibly exciting. I will also be going into production on an incredible short film called Unauthorised Absence, which forms part of a wider, national campaign to improve aspects of the Education system for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and their families. Plus, with my producer hat on, I will be celebrating a couple of other short films on the festival circuit. It’s going to be a great year!
Legado: Nominated for Best Film and Best Hair, Makeup, Costume
Director Eric Limarenko: “As an artist, my work bridges the realms of surrealism and whimsical fantasy, drawing inspiration from the imaginative genius of Salvador Dalí and the storytelling magic of Walt Disney. My creations explore the boundaries of reality and dreams, blending intricate details with a vibrant, dreamlike quality. Dalí’s surrealistic landscapes and Disney’s enchanting worlds profoundly influence my artistic vision, guiding my hand as I craft pieces that invite viewers into a space where the impossible becomes tangible and the fantastical feels familiar. Through my art, I strive to evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity, encouraging audiences to explore the depths of their own imaginations as Dail and Disney would have wanted.”
