VENGEANCE FEEDS THE DARK

HECATE - SHORTFILM

An injured witch seeks refuge in her hideout, but a nameless, masked hunter tracks her down. As the final battle erupts, an unexpected twist brings the truth to light. HECATE is an atmospheric, visually striking story about pain, choices, and the endless cycle of violence.

 

About the project

HECATE is a deeply personal passion project created independently by us. Written by Mascha Deikova, the vision was brought to life alongside an incredibly talented crew of close friends and collaborators over just three shooting days in the forest.

Beyond its narrative core, the project served as an opportunity to push our visual and technical boundaries as a production company. HECATE was the ideal playground to master complex practical special effects, including real fire and water on set. At the same time, sophisticated camera systems – including cable-cam setups and cranes – were deployed to stylistically capture the dark, dynamic atmosphere of the woods.

 

Runtime: 10 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

 

Awards & Screenings
Best Short Film (BARCIFF Spain 2025)
Best Direction – Mascha Deikova (BARCIFF Spain 2025)
Best Horror – Mystery (Austrian Film Festival 2025)
Simon S. Filmnachwuchspreis – 3. Platz (Stadt Salzburg 2025)
Official Selection (Volterra Fantasy Film Festival 2025)
Official Selection (The Fantasy Film Festival 2025)
Film Shortage – Featured Short (2026)

Stills from the film
A burning wrought-iron ritual torch flickering in a dark misty forest set for the short film HECATE.
Close-up film still of Selina Pöstinger playing the witch with dark makeup and a twig crown in HECATE.
Wide cinematic shot of masked hunters equipped with a bow and axe stalking through a dense pine forest in HECATE.
Over-the-shoulder shot of the witch's detailed headpiece, featuring a twig crown and black veil in the forest.
Atmospheric low-key side profile of Selina Pöstinger as the witch illuminated by cool moonlight on set.
Dramatic night scene featuring a witch standing near a flaming altar with an archer aiming from the foreground shadows.
Action cinematic still of Julia Rajsp playing the masked hunter running through the woods holding a longbow.
Intimate cinematic close-up shot of actress Julia Rajsp lit by warm flickering firelight during a night scene in HECATE.
Behind-The-Scenes
Behind-the-scenes night shot of Holy Moly Films crew operating camera and sound equipment on a atmospheric dark fantasy short film set in the woods.
Actress in dark fantasy witch attire framed by a cinema camera with high-contrast backlight on location.
Director Mascha Deikova pointing out direction on set while holding a director monitor in the forest during the HECATE short film production.
High-end cinema camera mounted on a jib crane and gimbal over water with fiery lighting effects during the filming of HECATE.
Film crew preparing a scenic forest shot with a ritual altar setup for a high-end narrative short film production.
Director of photography Imanuel Thallinger operating a fully rigged cinema camera during a night shoot.
Cinematographer Imanuel Thallinger operating the camera on a cable cam system running through the trees in the background.
Full cast and crew of Holy Moly Films posing together at night on the forest set of the dark fantasy short film HECATE.

Behind-The-Scenes pictures by Stefan Müller.

Credits
Written & Directed by

Mascha Deikova

Production Company

Holy Moly films

Starring

Selina Pöstinger
Julia Rajsp
Felix Weissl
Marcel Wolski

Producer

Elisabeth Derbay

Director of Photography / Editor / Colorist

Imanuel Thallinger

Original Score By

Philippe Bentegeac (Blue Bentu)

Sound Design / Sound Recordist

Tobias Türk

ADR Studio / 5.1 Upmix

Delta Vision

Make Up / Costumes

Mascha Beuthel

Set Design

Yuliya Hofer

B-Cam Operator / BTS

Stefan Müller

Assistant Camera

Lena Riedler

Cable Cam Operator / Hazer Man

Toby Wilson

Gaffer

Hans Hornberger

Best Boy

Stefan Ecker

Special Effects

Raphael Maier

VFX

Joshua Grill

Location Manager

Daniel Maitrot

Catering

Marie Maitrot

Rental Houses

7Hills
Kobe Light & Grip

3D Prints

Mathias Pölz

Special Thanks to

Thallinger Family
Mösenlechner Family
Hannes Kirschenr
Vorderegger & Partner GmbH