Caecilia

* WINNER - Horrible Imaginings at Museum of Photographic Arts *

* PLEASE WATCH 1080p with STEREO LOUDSPEAKERS or HEADPHONES *
* 2k scope DCP and HD Blu-Ray available with Dolby 5.1 sound *
* Press kit available here -- http://tinyurl.com/caeciliafilm *
* English Dialogue list available. Subtitles available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Korean, Swedish, German, Japanese, Romanian. *

An original, personal vision from debut director Gabriel Gettman, inspired by Mimi-nashi Hōichi 耳なし芳—, an ancient Japanese myth.

A blind feral girl, with unearthly spiritual power, is taken in at a desolate medieval monastery.

Can her priestly protector's faith save her from the dark forces drawn by her presence?

'A truly special film, absolutely beautiful with an inherent sadness... a meticulously-crafted symphony of images and sounds that transports the viewer, almost like a ballet'
-- Emilie Black, Cinema Crazed

  • Gabriel Gettman
    Director
    Commercials, music videos
  • Samantha Dakin
    Key Cast
    Hyde Park on Hudson
  • George Anton
    Key Cast
    K-19: The Widowmaker, The Sweeney, Law & Order
  • Jane Wood
    Key Cast
    Legend, Vera Drake
  • Nigel Galt
    Editor
    Eyes Wide Shut, Full Metal Jacket, Shallow Grave
  • James Boyle
    Sound Designer
    Batman Begins, World War Z, Casino Royale
  • John White
    Composer
    Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre London
  • Hamilton Stansfield
    Hair
    Dita Von Teese, Marilyn Manson, Nicole Kidman
  • Ginny Roncoroni
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student, Other
  • Genres:
    Drama, Horror, Historical, Ghost Story, Folk Tale
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 27, 2017
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Canon
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Comic-Con San Diego
    San Diego
    United States
    July 21, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Horrible Imaginings at Museum of Photographic Arts
    San Diego, CA
    United States
    October 4, 2017
    World Premiere
    Jury Prize
  • Lund Fantastisk Film Festival
    Lund
    Sweden
    October 3, 2018
    Scandinavian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival
    Portland, OR
    United States
    October 6, 2017
    Oregon Premiere
    Opening Film
  • Shorts México
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    September 12, 2018
    Mexico Premiere
    International Fantascorto Showcase
  • Virginia Film Festival
    Charlottesville, VA
    United States
    November 11, 2017
    Virginia Premiere
    Closing Film (Midnight screening)
  • Portobello Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    September 11, 2018
    London Premiere
    Nominated: Best Horror
  • Fastnet Film Festival
    Schull
    Ireland
    May 26, 2018
    European Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Ploiesti International Film Festival
    Ploiesti
    Romania
    December 17, 2018
    Eastern European Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The Groucho Club Short Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    February 20, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Cinedelphia at PhilaMOCA
    Philadelphia
    United States
    April 24, 2018
    Pennsylvania premiere
    Invited film
  • FILMLAB at Shoreditch House
    London
    United Kingdom
    March 25, 2018
    Private Screening
    Invited Work
  • Richmond International Film Festival
    Richmond, Virginia
    United Kingdom
    April 29, 2018
    Richmond Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Screentest Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    October 20, 2018
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Gabriel Gettman

Gabriel Gettman is a young British-American director, whose award-winning work explores the power of femininity as a gateway to the dark realms of the unconscious.

Signed at age twenty-three to one of the world's most renowned production companies, he began his career shooting fashion commercials in Paris. This commercial work was featured by Vogue, Purple, Elle, W, Hunger, Wonderland, 1883, Volt and Sunday Times Style, at London Fashion Week, ASVOFF, Cannes, TIFF, Bokeh and the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival, and in live performances by CocoRosie.

Now, after three years classical directing training at the Drama Centre at Central Saint Martins, for which he received first class honours, Gabriel has moved into narrative cinema, enlivening his richly aesthetic worlds with intensely skilful performances and a distinctively dark poetic voice.

He is currently developing his next fiction film: a post-apocalyptic tale of madness, addiction and witchcraft starring three real-life sisters.

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Director Statement

Conceived as a psychological folk tale, rich in allegory, with a haunting painterly aesthetic, Caecilia laments the archetypal fate of lost artists, and the hubris of those who would save their souls.