HARD:LINE Film Festival Announces 2025 Short Film Lineup
In Regensburg, a small medieval town on the Danube, lies a genre film festival that, every year, brings together cinephiles to celebrate everything horror, thriller, and science and fiction. That festival is the HARD:LINE Film Festival, which returns this year from April 10 to April 13. In anticipation of the festival, Dread Central is excited to reveal the festival’s short film lineup, which includes 17 films from around the world.
As part of the festival, all European-produced short films will compete for the coveted Méliès D’Argent. The winning film will compete against the winning films from all other festivals of the Méliès Cicle at Sitges in October 2025.
This year’s Méliès jury includes Verena Gräfe-Höft, producer of Pelican Blood, Sleep and Spirit In The Blood; Aislinn Clarke, director of the Irish folk horror film Fréwaka; and Tino Hahn, host of the”Genre Geschehen” podcast.
Now, check out all 17 films playing as part of this year’s HARD:LINE Film Festival!
12 CORS
German premiere | Méliès Competition
The antlers should have at least twelve ends. A thing like that on the wall would be just great! To get a little closer to his dream, Boris goes online in search of a poacher who can help him get his trophy. He finds a suitable guide in “Lancelot” for little money, who promises him a twelve-pointer. But the meeting at the agreed GPS coordinates in the forest is not quite what the two of them had in mind.
France 2024 | 11 minutes | Directed by: Cédric Chambin
BARE HANDS
German Premiere | International Highlights
As beautiful as the world in the Andes may be, its nature is destructive. Because here in the hinterland there are no laws, no system that watches over legality. Nameless people roam the land in search of… a teddy bear, for example. Because he doesn’t need to turn up empty-handed if he wants to see his son. Easier said than done. His hands and pockets are always empty. But what can’t be solved with money can certainly be solved in other ways.
Bolivia 2024 | 7 minutes | Directed by: José Velasco
BODY WORN VIDEO
German premiere | Méliès Competition
Being a policewoman is certainly not an easy life. You share the car with boss types who always make a big deal out of it, but don’t really get it together to be good cops themselves. With the emergency call that there is a possible case of child abuse, things can get even crappier. Nevertheless, Adele and Cane make their way to the emergency call center. Everything on the premises looks like you shouldn’t be here. Well, not at all.
Great Britain 2024 | 11 minutes | Directed by: Tony Hipwell
COSMIC CRASH
German premiere | Méliès Competition
Sam, the old trumpet, is once again not there but hanging around in the garden of the research lab when an unknown flying object crash-lands in (!) the poor boy. The death was witnessed by a concerned colleague, whose body now serves as a vehicle for the angry blob, which embeds itself in the onlooker’s head and takes control. With his puppet under his alien butt, he can enter the laboratory unhindered. But what the hell is he actually doing there?
Germany 2025 | 2 minutes | Directed by: James Smith
DAUGHTER
German premiere | Méliès Competition
Somewhere in a small village, Deme and Bernard live in an old hotel where they accommodate very special guests. Bernard keeps going out to lure young people into the house, where they end up serving as a “resource” for their daughter. As a resource for what the two think they know Marie needs. But time and resources are running out and Bernard sets off again. In Cyril, he finds a new source … and also an inspiration he thought he had long forgotten.
Belgium 2024 | 20 minutes | Directed by: Jorge Sermini
DE LEIDER KOMT
German premiere | Méliès Competition
Tibo Deleyder is actually just a shirt. One in a suit. But what he can do is put words into the mouths of the people in the village. A diffuse insecurity grows into a considerable unease and finally culminates in furious actionism. Because the people of the village want to defend themselves against an impending asylum facility. What is too much is simply too much! So they set off, set fire to everything together and Tibo won’t stop until everything burns. How right the shirt is…
Belgium 2024 | 17 minutes | Directed by: Michiel Geluykens, Manuel Janssens
ELEVATION
German premiere | Méliès Competition
Siblings Elsa and Anna are temporarily sharing a house. Driven by grief, the days are torture for Elsa until one night she observes a strange phenomenon. Initially it was a doll that floated into the room, but the cases become more and more frequent. Meanwhile, Anna has trouble believing Elsa’s descriptions, even though night after night chickens seem to disappear inexplicably from the coop. Something strange is going on here, but what?
Italy 2024 | 15 minutes | Directed by: Matteo Macaluso
HOLY HEAVINESS
International Highlights
Saying goodbye to your loved ones is difficult and painful. But sometimes they don’t want to leave. The memories cling to you and weigh so heavily that everyday life is an insurmountable burden. Every step hurts, every moment is agony and every smile hides a river of tears. But in the end, all that remains is to let go and take a step into a new era. All that remains is to replace the dead with the living. They are all worth it!
Iran 2024 | 9 minutes | Directed by: Farnoosh Abedi
IN THE NAME OF …
International Highlights
When Abraham enters the church, he is not yet aware of what awaits him. For nothing in this church is as it should be and the heaven of goodness is in truth a hell of contempt and destruction. The suffering that is experienced here cannot reach the outside world. All witnesses are blinded and deprived of their speech. Abraham experiences things that will brand him forever and haunt him forever. Meanwhile, faith gives way to fear and life becomes a nightmare!
Mexico 2024 | 10 minutes | Directed by: Marcos Muñoz Flores
IMAGO
German premiere | Méliès Competition
Lidia has always loved telling Marta stories. Just one last time, she promises her sister, just one last time she has to play along. So she starts to tell stories and drags Marta into a self-destructive world of fear and doubt, where no one can be sure what to believe.
Spain 2024 | 11 minutes | Directed by: Rafa Dengrá Olivier
LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE
International Premiere | International Highlights
Things haven’t really been going well for Logan and Jane for a long time. Then, Logan learns Jane has had an affair. While Logan still can’t believe what he’s just been told, there’s a knock at the door. A woman, looking for help and on the run, asks to be let in. Jane and Logan had promised each other that they would manage everything together and overcome every situation, no matter how difficult. But there are times when you can doubt that promise.
USA 2024 | 9 minutes | Directed by: Aaron Cassara
LONE WOLVES
German premiere | Méliès Competition
Of course: Covid was just the beginning of total control. Orwell was right, and anyway, we should be warned. But “those up there” have not reckoned with the two investigative conspiracy activists who enter a factory at night to uncover everything. Armed with cameras, they set off with the aim of finally opening the world’s eyes. But the deeper they dig, the clearer the picture becomes. Have they already been discovered?
Great Britain 2024 | 20 minutes | Directed by: Oliver Cane
MASKS
German Premiere | International Highlights
Doubts are at least justified. On the other hand, what could possibly happen? So Tim gives the unconventional treatment method a chance and keeps the masks. After all, they’ve already achieved good results with catatonic patients. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps it will also help Anna, who has been staring silently at herself for a year now, ever since the accident in which their son died…
USA 2024 | 14 minutes | Directed by: Andre LeBlanc
MU
German premiere | Méliès Competition
For Jan, life with Ona is heaven on earth. She is not only his favorite cow, but also his best friend. But Ona is ill and Jan resolves to look after the animal to the bitter end. For Jan’s father, however, Ona is a burden. Nobody can afford a sick cow, he says. Jan wants to protect his friend with his life. But one day the time has come and Ona falls victim to the slaughter. Jan will never forgive his father for the murder.
Spain 2024 | 12 minutes | Directed by: Javier Méndez Cañada
NAIMSL ESEL
World premiere | Méliès Competition
Naim is a security guard in an apartment complex. Every night he sees a hidden object picture of people, rooms, and corridors. Each surveillance image provides insights into other people’s lives. The interpretation is up to him: is what is happening a problem for security in the building? Somehow he had imagined things differently. Should it go on like this? Night after night alone in this room? When something unusual flickers on the monitor, he makes a decision, hoping to take the right path this time.
Germany 2025 | 16 minutes | Directed by: Ron Vodovozov
POCKET PRINCESS
German Premiere | International Highlights
A girl lives and loves her dolls, her doll’s house, and her colorful fantasy world, much to the displeasure of the priest, who will soon take over the girl’s guardianship. As a final act of love, the girl’s dying mother gives her daughter a doll for her doll’s house. But one is still missing—a princess. The dolls agree: she herself will be the princess. But she has to fulfill one last, big task. Only then can she become a princess.
Canada 2024 | 10 minutes | Directed by: Olivia Loccisano
THE PROCEDURE
German premiere | Méliès Competition
When you’re torn away from work so suddenly, you’re anything but what you were. That’s why it’s clear to Maria: she wants to get back to work, organize a party and then say goodbye. Fortunately, there are now facilities that can do this quickly and cleanly. If it weren’t for the problem with the treatment procedure. It’s enough to drive a Jesus Christ fangirl like Maria up the wall.
Portugal 2024 | 12 minutes | Directed by: Chico Noras
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