Tistlebu

As a young urban couple on a working holiday hopes to connect with nature at Tistlebu farm, a primordial power comes into play, changing them both forever.

  • Simon Matthew Valentine
    Director
    Our Monsters (2020), On/Off (2019)
  • Simon Matthew Valentine
    Writer
    Our Monsters (2020), On/Off (2019)
  • Alexander M. Delver
    Writer
    Tistlebu (2022)
  • Adam A. Losurdo
    Producer
    Hope (2016), Flicker (2015), The Forsaken (2017)
  • Aladdin Alisic
    Producer
    The Forsaken (2017), Phare (2016), Flicker (2015),
  • Andreas Rusti Johansen
    Producer
  • Sjur Vatne Brean
    Key Cast
    "Karl"
    Rådebank (2020-2021), Vikingulven (2021), Three Wishes for Cinderella (2021)
  • Sacha Slengesol Balgobin
    Key Cast
    "Sanna"
    Home for Christmas (2020), Tape (2020), ZombieLars (2018)
  • Oda Schjøll
    Key Cast
    "Anne"
    Hotel Cæsar, TRIO: Keplerdiamantene, Sørgekåpen
  • Peder Ulven
    Key Cast
    "Feral"
    Våryr (2021), Queen (2021), Runketid (2022)
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    80,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Norway
  • Country of Filming:
    Norway
  • Language:
    Norwegian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Sony Venice
  • Aspect Ratio:
    3:2
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Lund Fantastic Film Festival
    Lund
    Sweden
    Lund Premiere
    Official Selection | Winner - Best Short Film + Méliès d'argent
  • Monsters of Film
    Stockholm
    Sweden
    October 1, 2022
    Swedish Premiere
    Official Selection | Winner - Best Short Film
  • Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
    Brooklyn
    United States
    New York Premiere
    Official Selection | Winner - Best Director
  • Sin City Horror Fest
    Las Vegas
    United States
    Las Vegas Premiere
    Official Selection | Winner - Best Director
  • Terror In The Bay
    Ontario
    Canada
    October 22, 2022
    Ontario Premiere
    Winner - Best Short Film + Best Cinematography | Nominated - Best Supporting Actress + Best Original Score + Best Actress + Best Director
  • Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival
    Brussels
    Belgium
    Belgian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • FilmQuest
    Provo
    United States
    Utah Premiere
    Official Selection | Nominated - Best Foreign Film
  • Toronto After Dark
    Toronto
    Canada
    October 23, 2022
    Toronto Premiere
    Official Selection | Nominated - Best International Short Film
  • Atlanta Horror Film Festival
    Atlanta
    United States
    Atlanta Premiere
    Official Selection | Nominated - Best Dark Drama
  • GenreBlast Film Fest
    Winchester
    United States
    September 1, 2022
    Virginia Premiere
    Official Selection | Nominated - Best Short Film + Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy + Best Cinematography
  • Fantaspoa
    Porto Alegre
    Brazil
    Brazil Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Spooky Empire's International Horror Film Festival
    Orlando
    United States
    Orlando Premiere
    Official Selection | Nominated - Best Cinematography
  • Maniatic Fantastic International Film Festival
    València
    Spain
    November 25, 2022
    Spanish Premiere
    Official Selection | Nominated - Best Director + Best Actress
  • A Night of Horror International Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    Australian Premiere
    Official Selection | Nominated - Best International Short Film
  • The Norwegian Short Film Festival
    Grimstad
    Norway
    June 8, 2022
    Norwegian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Overlook Film Festival
    New Orleans
    United States
    June 2, 2022
    Louisiana Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Portland Horror Film Festival
    Portland
    United States
    June 29, 2022
    Oregon Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Popcorn Frights Film Festival
    Fort Lauderdale
    United States
    August 11, 2022
    East Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Screamfest Horror Film Festival
    LA
    United States
    October 16, 2022
    LA Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Beyond Fest
    LA
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Telluride Horror Show
    Telluride
    United States
    October 14, 2022
    Colorado
    Official Selection
  • Ramaskrik
    Oppdal
    Norway
    Oppdal Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Nightmares Film Festival
    Columbus
    United States
    Ohio Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Raindance Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    October 31, 2022
    London Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Indie Shorts Awards Cannes
    Cannes
    France
    French Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Nordic Film Days Lübeck
    Lübeck
    Germany
    German Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Blodig Weekend
    København
    Denmark
    Danish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Film Maudit 2.0
    Santa Monica, CA
    United States
    January 14, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Sacramento Horror Film Festival
    Sacramento, CA
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Nevermore Film Festival
    Durham, NC
    United States
    NC Premiere
    Official Selection | Nominated - Best Supporting Actress + Best Cinematography
  • Boston Underground Film Festival
    Cambridge, MA
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Cryptshow Festival
    Badalona
    Spain
    July 8, 2023
    Winner of the 17th Serra Circular Prize
  • Visioni Notturne
    Prato
    Italy
    Best Short 2023
  • Houston Horror Film Festival
    Houston
    United States
    August 11, 2023
    Official Selection
  • MOTELX - Lisbon International Horror Film Festival
    Lisbon
    Portugal
    Official Selection
  • ALTER
    Online
    United States
    August 1, 2023
    Online Release - August 1st 2023
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Simon Matthew Valentine

Simon is a British/Norwegian filmmaker who focuses on personal stories through magical realism and sci-fi. Self-taught from a young age, Simon searches for an individual cinematic expression while creating tactile environments and emotional characters that invite the audience into his world.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Tistlebu is a short film dealing with our understanding and use of the word “nature” as an unhuman product that is sold back to us as a nostalgic aesthetic after we have completely removed and distanced ourselves from our ecosystems. It is a cautionary tale that wishes to illuminate the dangers that our lack of real connection and interaction with our environment can cause us. It plays with the urban incompetence of the modern man and how that affects our sexuality and relationships.

The film intends to use genre as a way to approach complex thematic material in an engaging and visceral manner. Characters and their relationships are taken seriously as we explore their underlying dysfunctions and helplessness in the face of a power far beyond their comprehension.