The Birdwatcher

Short Film, 13 minutes 40 seconds.

A Myskatonic Production (http://myskatonic.co) Directed by Ryan Mackfall. Written by Lachlan Marks, based on an original story by Ryan Mackfall. Produced by Kingsley Marshall

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

UK Premiere - Frightfest 2025
Best Horror - Cambridge Short Film Festival
Official Selection: Chicago Horror Film Festival, Offbeat Film Festival, Celtic Media Festival, Ravenheart International Film Festival, GlowFlare Horror Film Festival, CenterFrame Selectis, Portland Horror Film Festival, The Independant Horror Society Indie Film Showcase 2025 (London, York, Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, Norwich), Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival, Golden Swan International Film Festival, HP Lovecraft Film Festival, Dead Northern Horror Film Festival, Fortean Film Festival

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