Purgatory: A Mockumentray Short

Purgatory is a dark comedy mockumentary about six contestants trapped in a bizarre reality game show inside a church, tasked with identifying the sinner among them. As accusations mount and tensions rise, the reality begins to blur. We are seeking crowdfunding support to help bring this ambitious student short film to life, covering production design, costumes, catering, transport, and accommodation.

Siobhan McCann- Director

Sophie Taylor-Producer

Sam Beal-Director Of Photography

All funds raised through this campaign will go directly towards the production of Purgatory. As a student-led project, we are fortunate to have access to equipment and support through University Of Canterbury; however, there are still a number of costs involved in bringing the film to life.

Your support will help cover:

• Location costs and donations for our filming venue
• Production design and set dressing to transform the space into the world of Purgatory
• Costumes and props for the Host and contestants
• Catering for cast and crew during filming
• Transport and fuel costs for cast, crew, and equipment
• Sound and lighting requirements not covered by university equipment
• Festival submission fees to help the film reach wider audiences after completion

Purgatory began as an experiment in blending reality television, mockumentary storytelling, and supernatural dark comedy. The film follows six contestants who enter a church to determine who among them is a sinner, guided by a charismatic but increasingly unsettling Host. As the game progresses, personal confessions, suspicion, and judgement begin to consume the group.

As a screenwriting student, I wanted to create a story that explored how quickly people judge one another when given limited information. Reality television often encourages audiences and contestants to make snap decisions about people, and Purgatory takes that idea to an absurd extreme. The project combines awkward humour, surreal situations, and a unique church setting to create a world that is both entertaining and unsettling.

The film has already completed a successful proof of concept, bringing together a passionate team of students and emerging filmmakers. We are now raising funds to support production design, costumes, catering, transport, and post-production as we prepare to shoot the full short film in August 2026. With your support, we hope to create a visually striking and memorable short film that showcases emerging New Zealand talent.

Purgatory is more than just a student film; it is a collaborative project that has brought together emerging filmmakers, actors, and creatives from across Christchurch. What began as a script has grown into a production supported by a passionate team who have contributed their time, ideas, and skills to help bring this unique story to life.

Community support will allow us to create opportunities for students and emerging artists to gain hands-on experience in filmmaking, from performance and production to cinematography and sound. Every contribution helps us continue developing local creative talent while producing an original New Zealand short film.

By backing Purgatory, you are not only supporting a single project, but also a team of passionate creatives eager to tell bold and unconventional stories.