Dance the Light Away

Imagine living in a world where even the smallest spark of light could lead to disaster. This is the world we’re inviting you to enter in Dance the Light Away, a short film by Horrorbelle Productions.  

In a city plagued by giant mutated crane flies known as “craneys”, three rebellious best friends Lavender, Amber, and Olive throw a defiant neon paint party in their student flat, breaking the government controlled “Lights-Out” policy; the one rule put in place to keep them safe at night when the craneys are active. When the party quickly runs out of booze, the three friends risk their lives venturing into the dangerous dark night, where even the smallest spark of light could lead to disaster. 

Dance the Light Away is a 15-minute live-action short film that blends sci-fi, horror, and black comedy, exploring themes of girl power, friendship, and grief. With a unique tone and an unforgettable visual style, this film is perfect for fans of genre-bending stories and dark humour.

Wait, what the heck are the “craneys”? 

Like we said… giant mutated crane flies. Cool idea, right? So, just like real crane flies, our “craneys” are drawn to light. The twist is, they are the size of a grown human adult with neon pink blood pulsing through their grotesque forms and razor sharp wings that could blend you up like a smoothie, making them a terrifying threat to anyone who dares stand too close to a light. 

So you’re making a film in a world where people can’t turn lights on? Good luck to the lighting team… 

It’s a good thing we have our amazing Director of Photography - Charlie Higgison on board! 

So, who else is making this crazy thing? 

The team behind Dance the Light Away is a talented group of filmmakers committed to pushing the boundaries of genre cinema. At the helm is writer/director Annabelle Snelling, a passionate female filmmaker with a wild imagination, driven by a desire to explore genre blending in cinema and craft stories that depict real-life experiences of women in imaginative ways. 

Annabelle is joined by a dedicated team of creatives who bring their own expertise and passion to this project. 

Starring:

Kimre Viviers as ‘Lavender’

Izzie Newton-Cross as ‘Amber’

Sarah Penny as ‘Olive’

Adam Herbert as ‘Kevin’

Jordan Rivers as ‘Freddie’

Crew: 

Georgia Hurley - Production Manager 

Leslie Reid - Co-Producer

Charlie Higgison - Director of Photography 

Emmy Hucker - Marketing Manager 

Jared Nichols - Story Development 

Jack Thompson - Locations Manager 

Paris Renalson - First Assistant Director 

Alice Bratley - Script Supervisor

Xan Twissell - Production Designer 

Tessa Saunders - Costume Designer 

Liam McPhearson - Concept and Creature Design 

Sam Stephens - Storyboard Artist 

Tuesday Howery - Special Effects and Make Up Artist 

Daniel ‘Sully’ Sullivan - Special Effects Artist and Puppeteer 

Eden Winters - Special Effects Artist and Puppeteer 

Zoe Holden - Costumes Coordinator 

Lee Doo Youn - Sculpter 

Shion Forsyth Kuroiwa - Nail Artist 

Harriet Trubshaw - Set Dressing 

Michael Kenna - Editor 

Liam Reid - Composer and Sound Designer 

Sam Rawlingson - VFX Producer 

Laurent Herveic - VFX Supervisor

Cécile Yon - VFX Coordinator 

Giovanni Manili - Senior Modeller 

Elizabeth Johnstone - Modeller 

Loïc Girault - Modeller 

Jack Szynaka - Rigging TV 

Yoann Paquet - CFX Artist 

Kay Hoddy - Compositor 

Henry Bennet - Senior Animator 

Sebastian Trujillo - Senior Animator 

Gillian Montagne - Animator 

Nova Fairbrother - Animator 

This film crew is made up of Wellington’s next generation of filmmakers. Our team is eager to take the risks necessary in order to create something truly unique with a commitment to experimentation, learning, and growth. With an average age of 27, this team is unafraid to challenge convention and bring fresh, bold ideas to life. Through this project, we’re not just making a film -- we’re celebrating the future of filmmaking in Wellington by creating a platform for passionate artists to showcase their vision and talent.

Together, they are committed to delivering a thrilling, visually striking short film that brings an unforgettable cinematic experience to life to audiences both in Aotearoa and beyond. 

So, what do you need from me? 

We’re raising $11K to cover key production costs, including set design, costumes, puppet creation, travel, catering, locations, props, special effects, makeup, and health and safety. Your support will enable us to bring this bold, high-energy story to life with the creativity it deserves. By backing Dance the Light Away, you’re not just helping make a film—you’re helping push the boundaries of genre filmmaking in Aotearoa and amplifying female voices in this space. The moment this crew grew to a size of 35+ it became obvious that this is no ordinary short film and with your support all of these incredible artists that joined this wild ride donating their time will get to be looked after at a professional level. 

What are you making it for? 

Dance the Light Away centres on strong and complex women who drive the narrative forward as characters who actively shape their own fates. We are committed to increasing true female representation in this space, showcasing multifaceted characters in a story that’s both thrilling and authentic. There is a clear movement happening at this very moment in which female film directors are claiming control over how women are represented in this space. Our film explores dark and real themes through female characters that are soul bearing, truthful and confronting. 

Dance the Light Away is a testament to the power of collaboration, and through it, we hope to inspire others to see Wellington as a thriving hub for genre filmmaking, where new voices are ready to lead the way. As a group of daring creatives, we are proving that you can make experimental risky films that take narrative swings that will keep audiences enthralled and on the edge of their seat. We can’t wait to dive into Dance the Light Away and show the world what this kick-ass Wellington cast and crew can do! 

That’s pretty cool… tell me more 

The expansive world we've crafted in Dance the Light Away is one we’re eager to explore further. This short film serves as a proof of concept, and we believe its success can open doors to expand the narrative into a feature film trilogy set in our very exciting and fresh world. By bringing epic genre filmmaking back into the heart of Wellington, with your support this short will succeed in its mission and in doing so, you will have helped bring years worth of work to a city that is capable of the extraordinary. Dance the Light Away has the potential to reach a global audience, showcasing both originality in storytelling and the creative talent coming out of Aotearoa, positioning the country as leaders in genre filmmaking. 

In a day and age where films are under immense pressure to stand out with originality, this film has already created a buzz (no pun intended) that has attracted the attention of local crew and actors, as well as both established and up-and-coming companies such as Floating Rock and Terror-Fi Film Festival, who believe this project will succeed and have offered support. Together, we are confident that Dance the Light Away has the potential to make a significant impact at genre film festivals in 2025 and 2026, and ultimately gain feature film interest. 

We would greatly appreciate any financial support you can offer to help bring this bold, female driven vision to life. 

Let’s dance the light away - together! 

Thank you!