| The Pearl Comb | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ali Cook |
| Written by | Ali Cook |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Dave Miller |
| Edited by | Sadaf Nazari |
| Music by | Clark (musician) |
Production company | Stigma Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 20:33 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Pearl Comb is an English-language fantasy drama short film starring Beatie Edney, Clara Paget and Simon Armstrong. The film was written and directed by Ali Cook and released in 2025. It was produced by Matthew James Wilkinson at Stigma Films [1] and premiered at the Tampere Film Festival on 6 March 2025. [2] It won the Méliès d’Argent for Best European Fantastic Short Film, [3] and the jury award for Best ‘After Dark’ short at the Savannah Film Festival. [4]
The film is set in 1893 and follows a fisherman’s wife who becomes the first person to cure someone of tuberculosis. [4] A doctor who wants to prove that a woman's place is in the home and not practising medicine, investigates but discovers that she derives her powers from the supernatural. [5] [6]
The Pearl Comb is an English production produced by Matthew James Wilkinson at Stigma Films and Ross Williams. Associate producers were Patrick Tolan, R. Paul Wilson and Amy Lockley. [6]
The film was shot on an ARRI Alexa LF. Principal photography took place between the 15th and 20th of November 2023 in Penzance, Cornwall, and at the West London Film Studios on 5 and 6 December 2023. In 2025, Miranda Richardson joined as executive producer. [6]
The Pearl Comb premiered at Finland's Tampere Film Festival on 6 March 2025. [1] followed by the FrightFest screening at Glasgow Film Festival on 8 March 2025. [1]
It also screened at Fantasia International Film Festival, [7] FilmQuest, [8] HollyShorts Film Festival [9] [10] St. Louis International Film Festival, [11] Nashville Film Festival, [12] Cleveland International Film Festival [13] Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival [14] and Imagine Film Festival. [15]
In 2025, two-time Academy Award nominee Miranda Richardson joined as an executive producer and praised the performances, noting, "I think the real key to its success is the standout performances with a story about the resilience of women against the societal structures that attempt to suppress them". [13]
Joanna Laurie, producer of One Life starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, described it as "ambitious, smart, scary, dramatic, funny and above all, expertly crafted".