Each year Abertoir invites filmmakers from across the globe to submit short films for the Abertoir Short Film Competition. As always, the response has been phenomenal and it’s not possible to show all of the amazing entries.

There are two awards on offer. The first being the Audience Award for Best Short Film, and the second is the Méliès d’argent awarded to the best European short film.

As part of Abertor’s role in the Méliès International Festivals Federation, our short film competition will award a Short Film Méliès d’argent. This is an internationally recognised prize specific to the Federation and is a testimony to the talented filmmakers in Europe. The winner of our Short Film Méliès d’argent will go forward to the final lineup at Sitges for the prestigious Méliès d’or Award for the Best European Fantastic Short Film. All our European fictional short films are eligible.

Films IN THIS SESSION are:

Amira, Bug, Canto, Carmageddon, Cosmic Crash, Dolores, Don’t be Afraid, Elevation, Glory Hole

Amira

Dir. Javier Yañez San,
Spain, 15mins

In the XVIII Century there’s a music school where it’s always dark…

Bug

Dir. Ali Masoumi
Iran, 6mins

A family of three has recently moved in and the little girl inspects the new home with curiosity when a small cricket finds its way in. But with the father’s unexpected reaction, the child’s perspective begins to shift, turning a simple encounter into something far more unsettling

Canto

Dir. Guilherme Daniel
Portugal, 15mins

Night after night, a man goes into the darkness and encounters a monstrous creature that speaks to him in an unknown language.

Carmageddon

Dir. Tarun Thind
UK 2025, 13mins

An inept nationalist’s mission takes a wickedly unexpected detour when he finds himself face-to-face with a Churel, a mischievous South Asian spirit determined to alter the course of his mission.

Cosmic Crash

Dir. James Smith
Germany 2025, 2mins

When an otherworldly being crashes near a lab, chaos is unleashed.

Dolores

Dir. Cecilia Andalón Delgadillo
Mexico 2024, 9mins

Dolores, a 7 year old girl who just wants to play, runs away from a fire demon and accidentally falls into grave.

Don’t Be Afraid

Dir. Mats Udd
Sweden 2024, 15mins

A tormented photographer makes a comeback with freshly taken photos at the very location where his son once disappeared. During the exhibition, visitors suddenly realize that there’s someone lurking in the background of several photos.

Elevation

Dir. Matteo Macaluso
Italy 2024, 15mins

Following a serious bereavement, Elsa temporarily moves to her sister Anna’s house. In that suspended dimension the faith of both is tested when strange phenomena begin to manifest themselves.

Glory Hole

Dir. Andoni Fernandez
Spain 2025, 15mins

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