Bees and Beasts is a gothic horror short film exploring themes of pain, pollination, and captivity. Gilda, a renowned endometriosis surgeon, finds herself trapped in a recurring nightmare with a beekeeper who wants to use her womb to bring back an extinct species of bees. In her attempt to escape the hive, Gilda is confronted by the horrors of pain and survival. With an intimate crew of three, Bees and Beasts was shot in remote locations along the southwest coast of England, mirroring the quiet isolation and loneliness experienced by the characters in the film. 

*Bees and Beasts will screen at Aesthetica Film Festival 2026

Credits

Written and Directed by Maria Garcia
Gilda: Maria Garcia
Beekeeper: Ruby Antonowicz-Behnan
Attending Physician Voice: Patricia O’Neill
Attending Physician: Cathy Charboneau
Produced by: Maria Garcia, Wesley Cardino, Ruby Antonowicz-Behnan
Cinematography by Wesley Cardino
Editor: Jeff Watterson
Composer and Sound Designer: Catarina Moreno
Costume and Production Design: Maria Garcia
Original Illustrations by Barbra Araujo
Sound Editor and Mixer: Dennis Dembeck
Colorist: Matt Wallach
Music Services: Five Palms  Music Supervisors: Ciara Elwis and Ellie Wolverton
Visual Effects Supervisor: Craig Weiss
Fight Coordinator: Jazz Harbour