MANTRA
FROM THE SHORT STORY 'CAUGHT IN THE GIN TRAP'
BY GRAHAM FARROW
BALADE SAUVAGE PRODUCTIONS 2022
Directed by Stef Meyer, Pascal Bourelier
Written by Graham Farrow, Stef Meyer, Pascal Bourelier
Produced by Charlotte Vande Vyvre, Francesca Betteni-Barnes
Starring
MAUD WYLER
RAPHAEL QUENARD
With the financial support of
LA REGION GRAND EST // CNC // MULHOUSE AGGLOMERATION // ALSACE 20
In partnership with DIFFRACTION
Language French // 17 minutes
Directed by Stef Meyer, Pascal Bourelier
Written by Graham Farrow, Stef Meyer, Pascal Bourelier
Produced by Charlotte Vande Vyvre, Francesca Betteni-Barnes
Starring
MAUD WYLER
RAPHAEL QUENARD
With the financial support of
LA REGION GRAND EST // CNC // MULHOUSE AGGLOMERATION // ALSACE 20
In partnership with DIFFRACTION
Language French // 17 minutes
FESTIVALS
- FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DU FILM FANTASTIQUE DE GERARDMER 2022
HÕFF - HAAPSALU HORROR AND FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL 2022
FESTIVAL EUROPEEN DU FILM FANTASTIQUE DE STRASBOURG 2022
FESTIVAL COURT METRANGE 2022
RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (USA) 2022
ATLANTA HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (USA) 2022
TORONTO AFTER DARK (CANADA) 2022
MADRID INDIE FILM FESTIVAL 2022 - BEST ACTRESS & BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEE
DUBLIN IFI HORRORTHON 2022
CRASH INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL (BRAZIL) 2022
LUND FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL - INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM DAY 2022
CLERMONT FERRAND INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - SHORT FILM MARKET PICKS
COURT MAIS TRASH (BELGIUM) 2023
FINAL GIRLS BERLIN 2023
NEVERMORE FILM FESTIVAL (USA) 2023 - BEST PHOTOGRAPHY NOMINEE
SHANGHAI INDIE FF 2023 - BEST HORROR FILM
TAMPERE FILM FESTIVAL (FINLAND) 2023 - SPECIAL MENTION GENERATION XYZ
MADEIRA FANTASTIC FILM FEST 2023 - BEST PHOTOGRAPHY + BEST EDITING
SHORT ENCOUNTERS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (GREECE) 2023
FANTASPOA (BRAZIL) 2023
BODEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - SEMI FINALIST
ETHERIA FILM FESTIVAL - HONORABLE MENTION
LISBIFF - LISBOA INDIE FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - BEST FILM + BEST DIRECTOR
INDIE SHORTS AWARDS NEW YORK 2023 - SEMI FINALIST
ETREUM HORROR FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - SPECIAL MENTION FOR BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
FANTASTIC & TERROR FILM FESTIVAL IN TARREGA (GALACTICAT) 2023
CRYPTSHOW 2023 - BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
TOKYO HORROR FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY + BEST KILL + MOST EROTIC
RAVENHEART INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (NORWAY) 2023
MACABRO HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (MEXICO) 2023
AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (UK) 2023
CELLULOID SCREAMS (UK) 2023
PARACINEMA FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - BEST SHORT FILM
A NIGHT OF HORROR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (AUSTRALIA) 2023 BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM + BEST ACTRESS
FESTIVAL DU FILM DE L'EST 2023 SPECIAL MENTION FOR BEST FILM
FRIGHT NIGHTS FESTIVAL (AUSTRIA) 2023 - BEST ACTRESS
GRIMMFEST (UK) 2023 - BEST SHORT FILM
FESTIVAL FENÊTRE SUR COUR 2023
LA BALADE DES COURTS 2023
RAZOR REEL FLANDERS FILM FESTIVAL 2023
SOUTH AFRICAN HORRORFEST 2023 BEST SHORT + BEST ACTING + BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
TARANTO HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (ITALY) 2023
IIK!! HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (FINLAND) 2023
BUENOS AIRES ROJO SANGRE FILM FESTIVAL 2023
CARDIFF MINI FESTIVAL (UK) 2024 BEST TWISTED TALES FILM
FIXION FEST, FANTASTIC & HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (Chilie) 2024
LA FÊTE DU COURT METRAGE (FR) 2024
NOX FILM FEST (URUGUAY) 2024
ROMFORD FILM FESTIVAL (UK) 2024
PUMPKIN FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL (CHINA) 2024
HÕFF - HAAPSALU HORROR AND FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL 2022
FESTIVAL EUROPEEN DU FILM FANTASTIQUE DE STRASBOURG 2022
FESTIVAL COURT METRANGE 2022
RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (USA) 2022
ATLANTA HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (USA) 2022
TORONTO AFTER DARK (CANADA) 2022
MADRID INDIE FILM FESTIVAL 2022 - BEST ACTRESS & BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEE
DUBLIN IFI HORRORTHON 2022
CRASH INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL (BRAZIL) 2022
LUND FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL - INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM DAY 2022
CLERMONT FERRAND INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - SHORT FILM MARKET PICKS
COURT MAIS TRASH (BELGIUM) 2023
FINAL GIRLS BERLIN 2023
NEVERMORE FILM FESTIVAL (USA) 2023 - BEST PHOTOGRAPHY NOMINEE
SHANGHAI INDIE FF 2023 - BEST HORROR FILM
TAMPERE FILM FESTIVAL (FINLAND) 2023 - SPECIAL MENTION GENERATION XYZ
MADEIRA FANTASTIC FILM FEST 2023 - BEST PHOTOGRAPHY + BEST EDITING
SHORT ENCOUNTERS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (GREECE) 2023
FANTASPOA (BRAZIL) 2023
BODEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - SEMI FINALIST
ETHERIA FILM FESTIVAL - HONORABLE MENTION
LISBIFF - LISBOA INDIE FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - BEST FILM + BEST DIRECTOR
INDIE SHORTS AWARDS NEW YORK 2023 - SEMI FINALIST
ETREUM HORROR FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - SPECIAL MENTION FOR BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
FANTASTIC & TERROR FILM FESTIVAL IN TARREGA (GALACTICAT) 2023
CRYPTSHOW 2023 - BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
TOKYO HORROR FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY + BEST KILL + MOST EROTIC
RAVENHEART INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (NORWAY) 2023
MACABRO HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (MEXICO) 2023
AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (UK) 2023
CELLULOID SCREAMS (UK) 2023
PARACINEMA FILM FESTIVAL 2023 - BEST SHORT FILM
A NIGHT OF HORROR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (AUSTRALIA) 2023 BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM + BEST ACTRESS
FESTIVAL DU FILM DE L'EST 2023 SPECIAL MENTION FOR BEST FILM
FRIGHT NIGHTS FESTIVAL (AUSTRIA) 2023 - BEST ACTRESS
GRIMMFEST (UK) 2023 - BEST SHORT FILM
FESTIVAL FENÊTRE SUR COUR 2023
LA BALADE DES COURTS 2023
RAZOR REEL FLANDERS FILM FESTIVAL 2023
SOUTH AFRICAN HORRORFEST 2023 BEST SHORT + BEST ACTING + BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
TARANTO HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (ITALY) 2023
IIK!! HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (FINLAND) 2023
BUENOS AIRES ROJO SANGRE FILM FESTIVAL 2023
CARDIFF MINI FESTIVAL (UK) 2024 BEST TWISTED TALES FILM
FIXION FEST, FANTASTIC & HORROR FILM FESTIVAL (Chilie) 2024
LA FÊTE DU COURT METRAGE (FR) 2024
NOX FILM FEST (URUGUAY) 2024
ROMFORD FILM FESTIVAL (UK) 2024
PUMPKIN FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL (CHINA) 2024
DIFFUSION
FRANCE TV
NOOZY
FESTIVAL SCOPE
SELECTION COURT METRAGE TELERAMA 2024
SHADOWZ
ARTE
NOOZY
FESTIVAL SCOPE
SELECTION COURT METRAGE TELERAMA 2024
SHADOWZ
ARTE
Emma and Paul have just moved into an old suburban mansion.
They barely have the time to move in that Paul has to travel away for work...
Emma discovers a strange creature inside Paul's office : a praying mantis.
She's both repulsed and fascinated by this unusual insect.
Depressed and feeling isolated, Emma ends up identifying with this insect trapped inside its vivarium,
and a strange relationship develops between the woman and the animal.
They barely have the time to move in that Paul has to travel away for work...
Emma discovers a strange creature inside Paul's office : a praying mantis.
She's both repulsed and fascinated by this unusual insect.
Depressed and feeling isolated, Emma ends up identifying with this insect trapped inside its vivarium,
and a strange relationship develops between the woman and the animal.
Director of photography ANTOINE CARPENTIER
Steadycamer VALENTIN CLARKE
Camera Assistant MAEVA VO DINH
Set designer CHLOE MONGUILLON
Set designer Assistants ARNO ZHAO & JULIA TROUILLOT
Practical Special Effects DAVID SCHERER
Assistants MELODIE SCAGNOLI & LEA EDENWALD
Costume designer CHARLOTTE ABALE GNAHORE
1st AD LOLA BERNARD
Line producer ZOE MAGNIN
Sound engineer KINANE MOUALA
Assisted by NICOLAS CADIOU
Music composer ALEXANDRE EDENNE
Film editor NADEGE KINTZINGER
Sound editor CHARLOTTE BUTRAK
Sound mix SAMUEL AICHOUN
Color-grading BRICE PANCOT
3D Creature Artist NICOLAS SAURY
Additional VFX STEF & WYT
Steadycamer VALENTIN CLARKE
Camera Assistant MAEVA VO DINH
Set designer CHLOE MONGUILLON
Set designer Assistants ARNO ZHAO & JULIA TROUILLOT
Practical Special Effects DAVID SCHERER
Assistants MELODIE SCAGNOLI & LEA EDENWALD
Costume designer CHARLOTTE ABALE GNAHORE
1st AD LOLA BERNARD
Line producer ZOE MAGNIN
Sound engineer KINANE MOUALA
Assisted by NICOLAS CADIOU
Music composer ALEXANDRE EDENNE
Film editor NADEGE KINTZINGER
Sound editor CHARLOTTE BUTRAK
Sound mix SAMUEL AICHOUN
Color-grading BRICE PANCOT
3D Creature Artist NICOLAS SAURY
Additional VFX STEF & WYT
PRESS
"Wow. To start I am terrified of insects in general. Whether they look cute or not, I just feel my skin crawl whenever I see one. Mantra does an excellent job of creating this beautiful relationship between Emma and the praying mantis. It did so well that I almost forgot I was repulsed by the insect. This dark and dreary story takes turns I was sort of expecting but leads you down this strange road of self-exploration. Even if I had anticipated the direction the story was heading, Meyer and Bourelier handled this subject matter with such class and elegance that I enjoyed every singular second of it."
BRENDAN JESUS
BRENDAN JESUS
