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RED: Beast Huntress

When a young shepherdess is kidnapped by a mysterious beast on the eve of her wedding, it is Red, a fierce mercenary, who is hired to find her and slay the creature. Yet, deep in the forest, a horrifying truth comes to light: the worst monsters don’t live in the woods.

  • Benjamin Maublanc
    Director
  • Benjamin Maublanc
    Writer
  • François Javerliat
    Producer
  • Benjamin Maublanc
    Producer
  • Sarah Cotten
    Key Cast
    "Red"
  • Julie Moulin
    Key Cast
    "Alix"
  • George Grisbi
    Key Cast
    "Vincent"
  • Jean-Pierre Cliquet
    Key Cast
    "Jean"
  • Nicolas Verdier
    Key Cast
    "Arnaud"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    ROUGE : Chasseuse de bêtes
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Fantastic, Drama
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 9 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    France
  • Country of Filming:
    France
  • Language:
    French
  • Shooting Format:
    4K - ProRes 422 HQ
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • AltFF Alternative Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    Award - Best Poster
  • Monza Film Festival
    Monza
    Italy
    April 30, 2025
    Award - Best Fantasy
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    May 6, 2025
    Greece Premiere
    Award - Best Production Design
  • Blanes - Costa Brava International Film Festival
    Blanes
    Spain
    May 20, 2025
    Spain Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Benjamin Maublanc

Benjamin Maublanc has been writing and directing for over ten years. Deeply influenced by the imaginary since childhood, it's only natural that he thrives today as a writer and director in this genre. Having worked for four years as an on-set props master for fiction, he's gained experience in set decoration and props, along with a passion for practical effects. With a handcrafted approach to filmmaking, he's deeply committed to an artistic direction rich in texture and physically embodied, favoring the tangible and real over the overuse of digital techniques. This paradox between fantasy and realism is a core element of his works' poetry, reflecting the unique identity of this young director.

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Director Statement

At the beginning, creating this film felt like jumping into the void. Of course, we jump with a bungee cord tied to our feet, ensuring we can't fall, but we're never entirely safe from the cable snapping. From the very beginning, with François Javerliat, the film's producer, we knew it would be a significant challenge. Bringing a medieval fantasy world to life for 30 minutes, shot in 9 days, with a budget of under €8,000 and an on-set technical crew of 8 people, was almost an act of faith.

RED: Beast Huntress is a tale immersed in the imagery of fairy tales, a medieval-fantasy story with numerous references. I like to say it’s a work halfway between a French The Witcher and a modernized version of Xena, Warrior Princess. I took great pleasure in making this entire world believable and immersive, creating an enveloping atmosphere that I hope is sustained from the first image to the last.

RED: Beast Huntress is a dense film, lying on the boundary of a feature in many respects. François and I were fully aware that self-producing a short film of this length would be a challenge—not only in terms of production but also, and above all, for distribution.

After an eight-minute debut film and a second one lasting 15 minutes, I was eager to give more depth to the narrative and characters, stepping away from concept-driven stories that can sometimes feel like mere pretexts. This time, I wanted to create a structure closer to one of a feature film and use this as an opportunity to practice transitioning to a format where many creators lose their footing.

That’s why we took our time. Time to evoke the atmosphere of these mysterious woods, time to linger on glances and craft silences, time to let the story and emotions fully breathe.

This film is not just a short—it’s a genuine exploration of finding the perfect balance between artistic ambition, production realities, and audience expectations.