Join our regionally based short filmmakers as they share the stage with a panel of industry experts discuss the trials, tribulations and creative possibilities of short film.

Turning the things that haunt us into equally haunting, unique stories is a great way of building creative confidence – and of connecting with your audience.

Exeter based animator Ashley Thorpe discusses the launch of his career via the Exeter Phoenix, the animated films and the inspirations and techniques behind their creation.

After forging a lethal new sword from an old graveyard cross, vampire hunters set out to put an end to evil’s reign of terror in this Hammer Films horror classic.

Hammer glamour…Bond girls…icons – Caroline Munro and Madeline Smith join us for a very special Q&A hosted by Jonathan Rigby.

The vampire Countess Carmilla Karnstein makes her way through the Austrian countryside creeping into the households of aristocrats and taking their daughters as victims.

Star of Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You and QI Kiri Pritchard-McLean is back with a brand new tour, her funniest and most personal to date. 

Folklore author and researcher Mark Norman looks at the fascinating life of the Exeter based bibliographer, antiquary and ‘lycanthaphile’ Sabine Baring-Gould (perhaps best known for writing the hymn ‘Onwards Christian Soldiers’), his Book of werewolves and the possible links between Devon and Dracula.

A beautiful mysterious woman, who introduces herself as the Countess of Bathory, and her aide seduce a newly wed couple in a French hotel in a nightmare of violence and depravity.

Renowned author, actor and friend of the Hell Tor festival, Jonathan Rigby (English Gothic, Borley Rectory) joins actor and writer James Swanton (The Host, The First Omen, Lot No. 49) to discuss the many actors who have inhabited the famed role of the Count.

Renowned author and film critic Kim Newman (Anno Dracula, Nightmare Movies) discusses his love of vampires, the background of his popular ‘alternate history’ novel series and how the vampire has evolved with popular culture throughout the years.

Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) despatches Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) to his grave, only for the Lord of Darkness to be reborn by occultist Johnny Alucard (Christopher Neame) in swinging 70’s London.

A special vampire themed live reading by local writer and performer Lee Rawlings.

Kook Ensemble invites you to Filibuster – a funny, playful and sometimes downright absurd story of fantasy, hope and love – brought to life by acclaimed gentleman juggler Tom Gaskin and international circus director Sean Kempton.

Want to vocalise your bare bones vision? Give it a try! Need to stand up and show without a ticketed audience? Go for it! Maybe you would like to hear people read your script out loud? Just ask! New to this and have a curiosity about making something from scratch? Start here!

Ladies & Gentleman! Gary Meikle is back yet again with another self-written, self-deprecating show to leave you all short of breath again.

Work from a model to develop your own sculpting style in clay.

Work with your favourite, foraged, foliage to create a plaque or table centre piece from terracotta

India Electric Company are perhaps best described as “a veritable musical magpie’s nest” (BBC Radio 3) and “A full musical odyssey” (BBC Radio 1).

Captivating audiences with his unique, husky voice and tasteful piano accompaniment, Eddy Smith has been making his mark with his soulful melodies and infectious song-writing.

From the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall in the north east of England, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening reach out to the wider world, connecting threads of music, landscape and people over almost 2000 years.