YULE CAT | Icelandic Folklore Horror Short Film

It does not care if you are naughty or mice.

"The night before Christmas, an Icelandic family is struck by an evil that lurks in the dark."

Christmas is weird. It’s where families come together to celebrate a big red man but where there’s also a foreboding sense of anxiety creeping around the corner.
It’s full of colorful glee that manifests in gifts and cold nights that would kill you if you didn’t have the proper clothes.
Folklore has always had a looming presence over Christmas, especially in the Nordic countries.
In Sweden we have the Yule Goat, closely resembling Krampus, but an even more obscure being inhabits Iceland, one we believe hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention in entertainment.
We wanted to change that with this film.
The Yule Cat of Iceland is a horrific large feline beast who hunts men rather than mice and actively
stalk the ones who are already poor and on their knees.
Yes, we know, Icelandic folklore is bleak. We love it.
Our goal was to make as faithful an adaptation of the source material as possible, with Icelandic language and all, while realizing this creature as a force of nature in a horror setting through the perspective of a child.
Do not go gentle into that Christmas night.

Connect with Sägen Film:

▼CREDITS▼
written, directed & produced by
Albin Glasell

cinematography, editing, VFX & sound by
Erik Engbo

3D animation & modeling by
Selma Einarsdóttir & Bjarki Kjellsson

makeup & hair by
Julia Nord

introducing Ingrid Bunnskog as ”Gudrun”
with Agnes Persson as ”Hildur”

producer, concept artist & 3D textures
Leia Widgren-Bjarkadotter

production assistant & assistant camera
Cajsa Wittboldt

sound technician
Jinny Chen

costume
Agnes Persson

props
Alexander Svensson

script consultant
Tage Olsson

made with support from
Kultur i Halland - Film & Idécentralen Varberg
Filmed on location in Varberg, Sweden 2022
© 2022 Sägen Film, All Rights Reserved

///

- OFFICIAL SELECTIONS -

SHORT TO THE POINT 2023
Bucharest, Romania
*NOMINATED, BEST HORROR SHORT FILM*

NIGHT TERRORS FILM FESTIVAL 2023
Copenhagen, Denmark

THE NORTH FILM FESTIVAL 2023
Stockholm, Sweden
*WINNER, BEST HORROR SHORT FILM*

ZAGREB INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2023
Zagreb, Croatia
*WINNER, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS & BEST VFX*

FROSTBITER ICELANDIC HORROR SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, 2023
Akranes, Iceland
*NOMINATED, BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT*

HORROR SCREENINGS FILM FESTIVAL BLOODY MIRROR, 2023
Tbilisi, Georgia
*WINNER, BEST DIRECTOR*

CRIMSON SCREEN HORROR FEST, 2023
Columbia SA, United States

ATLANTA HORROR FILM FESTIVAL, 2023
Atlanta Georgia, United States

FILMQUEST, 2023
Provo Utah, United States
*NOMINATED, BEST MICRO SHORT*

LA INTERNATIONAL HORROR FILM FESTIVAL, 2023
Los Angeles, United States
*FINALIST*

#yulecat
#holidayhorrorshortfilm
#sägenfilm

[Dead_squirrel]

I wish more people knew about the the yule cat it's so majestic yet terrifying I love the concept of her, a cute animal portraied as a beast she could be misunderstood or pure evil who knows but even with my megalaphobia (fear of large things) she's amazing

[V.R.CoryArt]

I love the Yule Cat, I wish there were more films/shows including it! This is awesome, I love the design of the Yule Cat, the suspense, and the descolate snowy cabin atmosphere!

[KILLERSSG]

~sigh~ This is one of those short films that I sincerely wish was much longer, excellent work!

[anantaakansh]

Extremely well made guys. Rooting for the little girl 😊

[МихаилК-ээ]

This is probably why there are no polar bears in Iceland...🤔
Nice film! (Also, it made me surf the internet studying Icelandic folklore)

[ying-jungchen]

Wow!!!! What a film! Full of atmosphere and the VFX is fantastic! Shout out to the team!

[legionarybooks]

Loved this! I'm getting ready to run a module called "Beware the Yule Cat" for my Dungeons & Dragons group over the holidays. When the girl sees the cat on the roof, I immediately thought of the line from Blazing Saddles, "Don't shoot him, you'll just make him mad." 😸

[ui]

This is why my cousins in Iceland no text me anymore

[fridabjorklund]

Wow! Tack för att jag fick ta del av denna. Go Ingrid!! Toppen!

[Stevarooni]

Spectacular work! Atmospheric and beautiful.

[jimmyaskelius]

Riktigt bra kortfilm! Bra skådespeleri, visuella effekter, bildkomposition och ljud! Kul att följa er resa och med denna film visar ni verkligen att ni är med i matchen! Ser fram emot en långfilm från er😁

[danideath]

Riktigt snyggt, men den var ju för kort haha =) Schysst Cameo av Albin =)

[crystalincyberspace]

Very well done 👏🏼 Happy Christmas from Melbourne, Australia 🎄🎅⛄ Too warm down here 🌡️🤣

[meineigenername]

Is there a longer version coming up or something alike? I love this film!! Tense atmosphere, adorable cat!

[natmanx]

Love it! Great subject for a short film like this.

[pixel]

Riktigt bra kortfilm!! älskar effekterna på Yule Katten! klippet när den kollar in genom fönstret var snyggt som fan!! o snyggt jobb av Herr Engbo på alla fronter, saknar hans videos på tuben! -- en riktigt skön kortfilm o passar perfekt så här på julaftonskvällen när man är fullproppad med julmat o pepparkakor!

[NilsKall]

God Jul! Får kolla på TVn hemma när jag kommer hem!

[jasmine]

Who knew a cat could be a good horror film villain

[SlayerseriesAU]

great job guys you shows a myth creature the scary Yle cat and what happened to the girl did she died to the beast?

[Previsionary]

Great quality, I'm most impressed!