Short Film Showcase

GASP! presents five Short Film Showcases at their main festival each year, and this Horror All-Dayer showcase works as a great example of what you can expect from those showcases as well as GASP! Horror Film Festival as a whole. From an intimate relationship with a TV to a surprise party gone very wrong and from a Mexican slasher to a ballet creature feature, this showcase is sure to provide something for everyone!

TELE XXX

Written and Directed by Johnny Massahi – Starring Laurence R. Harvey, Charlotte Avery, Sue Moore - 2026, UK, 9 minutes

Content Warning: Body horror, flashing images and misogyny.

A middle-aged recluse (Laurence R. Harvey) spirals into sexual mania when he is seduced by his television. TELE XXX reckons with the fragile line between desire and perversion in a hyperconnected yet disconnected world.

Surprise!

Exclusive Manchester Screening

Written and Directed by Dave Gardner, Co-written by Jo Overfield – Starring Dodie Finamore, Jonathan Cobb, Olivia Revans, Ross Henson – UK, 2025, 10 minutes

Content Warning: Brief flashing lights.

A working class mum discovers a terrifying secret at the surprise party from hell!

Ziggy’s Show: The Curse of Mariachi Bondage

European Premiere

Written and Directed by Giorgio Ross – Starring Elena Garza, Iván Molo, Víctor Bonilla, André Musich – Mexico, 2026, 10 minutes

Content Warning: Body horror and flashing images.

Ziggy, a rising influencer, is trying to increase her number of followers on social media by awakening the curse of an old song. Now a gloomy mariachi who makes people dance until they die is chasing Ziggy until he fulfils her dream of making her viral.

D3STRO

UK Premiere

Written and Directed by Joshua Torresvalle – Starring Sandra González Camarena, Pablo Amador – Mexico, 2026, 7 minutes

Content Warning: Body horror and Cannibalism

A young couple shares a deep passion about food and desire for each other. They put all their efforts to satisfy all their fantasies, until they come with the ultimate culinary experience. One must be eaten and the second must feed from the other’s flesh.

Rock Paper Scissors Death

Directed by Dayle Saunders, Written by Andrew Walker – Starring Jay McMahon, Lottie Osborn, Michael Saynor - UK, 2025, 4 minutes

A man stuck in a deadly Rock Paper Scissors game wants to lose and escape. But with a hidden psychopath controlling the game, can he outsmart them or is he trapped forever?

Beyond The Moonlight

Written and Directed by Natalie Christine Rodriguez – Starring Alexandra Almendarez, Isabella Jaimie – USA, 2026, 9 minutes

Content Warning: Body Horror.

During a brutal dance rehearsal, a reserved dancer uncovers the disturbing truth behind her sister's intense training -- it is not for a performance...but for something far more terrifying.

The Hatch

Exclusive Manchester Screening

Written and Directed by Suzanne Curtis, Co-written by Thomas Campbell – Starring Byron Collins, Emelie Felina, Marin Van Osch – UK, 2025, 12 minutes

A young couple move into their new home and when they go into the loft and bring down an old teddy bear they unwillingly invite a malevolent demon into their home.

Exposed

International Premiere

Written and Directed by Nicholas Molinari, Co-written by JP Brooks – Starring Kamau Mitchell, Heather Olsen – USA, 2026, 4 minutes

Content Warning: Body horror

Frank is a passionate photographer who enjoys taking photos of his escapades. When a polaroid of his newest lover Jen goes missing, tensions rise!

Dry January

Northern UK Premiere

Written and Directed by C.J. Arellano – Starring Akanksha Cruczynski, Zak Ma, Max B. Ehrlich – USA, 2026, 19 minutes

Content Warning: Alcoholism and vomit.

When Maya commits to a month of sobriety and takes up sculpting as a hobby, her crab sculptures terrorize her former drinking buddy, her brother Toby.