The Masque of the Red Death

Closely adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's short story, this animated tale of a time of pestilence paints a picture of what might have been Poe's own feelings of fatalistic helplessness in the face of the White Plague, tuberculosis, which had claimed several members of his family. Artistically told in a surreal expressionistic style, this film also draws on Poe's own use of colorful and detailed description in the story.

  • Deb Ethier
    Director
  • Deb Ethier
    Writer
  • Deb Ethier
    Producer
  • Michael Ethier
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Fantasy, Drama
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 19, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    50 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital animation
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Berlin Flash Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    Winner, Super Short Animation, April 2020
  • Fantaspoa at Home
    Online Festival
    May 9, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Deptford Cinema Film Festival
    Deptford
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • Covid19 Vision Film Festival
    Rome
    Italy
    Third Place
  • Changing Face International Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    Winner, Best Animated Short, April 2020
  • Quarantini Film Festival
    Online Event
    United States
    Winner, Best Animation
  • Top Indie Film Awards
    Tokyo
    Japan
    Nominee; Best Animation, Most Terrifying
  • Bridge Fest
    Online Event
    Winner, Best Animation, May 2020
  • Shorted
    Online Event
    United States
    Nominee
  • Couch Film Festival
    Toronto, ON
    Canada
    Semi-Finalist, Summer 2020
  • Direct Monthly Online Film Festival
    Online Event
    Official Selection
  • Alternative Film Festival
    Toronto, ON
    Winner, Third Place Summer 2020
  • Global Monthly Online Film Competition
    Online Festival
    Best Animation Short, Special Mention
  • TMFF The Monthly Film Festival
    Glasgow, Scotland
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • World Premiere Film Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Winner, Best Narrated Short
  • Etowah Film Festival
    Canton, GA
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Frostbite International Indie Festival
    Colorado Springs, CO
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Delirium, Dreams & Nightmares
    Southsea, Hampshire
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • Over Forty Film Festival
    Carnegie, PA (Online)
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Cinema Soup Film Festival
    Dekalb, IL (Online)
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Macabre Faire Film Festival
    Lebanon, TN
    United States
    September 30, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Poe Film Festival
    Richmond, VA
    United States
    November 12, 2021
    Official Selection
  • 8 & HalFilm Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    Best Horror Short
Director Biography - Deb Ethier

I have at various times in my life been an artist, musician, writer, educator, history and vintage film buff, puppet maker and children's theatre director, finally tying them all together with stop-motion and mixed-media animation. "Rusty Bolt Theatre" and "Seat of the Pants Film Lab" are basically one-person, no-budget endeavours in which I wear all of the hats.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Poe's story seemed eerily appropriate in this time of pandemic. This film was created from beginning to end when in isolation.