The found footage horror short BIRDCALL, directed by Montreal-based filmmaker Justin Calandriello, is set to make its World Premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 31. The 15-minute film has been selected as part of the Weekend Fantastique du Cinéma Québécois program, showcasing emerging and established voices in genre filmmaking from Quebec.
Written by Halle Kott, BIRDCALL takes place in a world devastated by an avian-borne disease that has forced humanity into isolated, protected cities. The story follows a scientist and his wife as they retreat to a remote cabin outside their compound. Unknown to his wife, the scientist has contracted the disease himself and intends to use their isolation as an opportunity to test an experimental cure, placing both of their lives at risk.
Drawing inspiration from analog horror and classic found footage cinema, BIRDCALL employs a recovered footage format designed to immerse audiences directly into its post-apocalyptic setting. The film combines environmental themes with an intimate character-driven narrative, exploring humanity’s relationship with nature, personal identity, and survival.
Writer Halle Kott cited contemporary concerns surrounding environmental change and global instability as key inspirations behind the project, explaining that speculative fiction can create opportunities to reconsider humanity’s place within a rapidly changing world.
