The Pearl Comb

The Pearl Comb
Directed byAli Cook
Written byAli Cook
Produced by
  • Matthew James Wilkinson
  • Ross Williams
Starring
CinematographyDave Miller
Edited bySadaf Nazari
Music byClark (musician)
Production
company
Stigma Films
Release date
  • 6 March 2025 (2025-03-06)
Running time
20 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

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 was shortlisted for Best Live Action Short at the 98th Academy Awards.[5] It was also longlisted for a BAFTA Award for Best Short Film at the 79th British Academy Film Awards.[6]

Synopsis

In 1893, a fisherman’s wife becomes the first person to cure someone of tuberculosis.[4] A doctor, intent on proving a woman’s place is in the home and not practising medicine, investigates - only to discover the source of her unearthly power.[7][8]

Cast

Production

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.[8]

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.[8]

David Lancaster, the Academy Award winning producer of Whiplash, came on board as an Executive Producer in 2026. He said, "Ali Cook has pulled off a fabulously freaky fable. It feels as if Robert Eggers were channelling Guillermo del Toro! This twisted period piece surprises at every turn, blending myth and mermaid, empathy and evil, and building to a crackling finish".[9]

Two-time Academy Award winning visual effects supervisor Paul Franklin commented of the film, "One of the things I really loved about the film is that it tells a proper story in just twenty minutes. It feels like it could be expanded into a bigger film, and yet it remains beautifully complete in its short form".[10]

Release

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,[11] FilmQuest,[12] HollyShorts Film Festival[13][14] St. Louis International Film Festival,[15] Nashville Film Festival,[16] Cleveland International Film Festival[17] Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival,[18] and Imagine Film Festival.[19]

Since 1 January 2026, the film has been available for streaming on Disney+ in Europe.[20]

Reception

In 2025, 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".[17]

Joanna Laurie, producer of One Life starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, described it as "ambitious, smart, scary, dramatic, funny and above all, expertly crafted".

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Pearl Comb by Ali Cook: Mythic Historical Drama to Screen at CIFF". Indie Activity. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  2. ^ "The Pearl Comb". Letterboxd. 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b "GROSSMANN 2025 Announces Méliès d'Argent Winner". Méliès International Festivals Federation. 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b McLachlan, Megan (3 November 2025). "SCAD Savannah Film Festival 2025 Announces Audience and Competition Award Winners". The Contending. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  5. ^ "98TH OSCARS® SHORTLISTS IN 12 AWARD CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED". Academy Awards. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Films to watch: 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards Longlist". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Ali Cook's 'The Pearl Comb' Sets Festivals Ablaze, Positioning Live Action Short As 2026's Dark Horse". Deadline Hollywood. 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b c Moser, Joey (14 January 2026). "Shorts Exclusive: Two-Time Academy Award Winner Paul Franklin Praises Ali Cook's 'The Pearl Comb'". The Contending. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  9. ^ Clarke, Stewart (9 January 2026). "Oscar-Shortlisted Short Film 'The Pearl Comb' Lands On Disney+ As Miranda Richardson & David Lancaster Sign On As Exec Producers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  10. ^ Moser, Joey (14 January 2026). "Shorts Exclusive: Two-Time Academy Award Winner Paul Franklin Praises Ali Cook's 'The Pearl Comb'". The Contending. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  11. ^ "The Pearl Comb". Fantasia International Film Festival. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  12. ^ Perry, Joseph (23 October 2025). "FilmQuest Preview: Recommended Shorts from the Horrifying to the Hilarious!". Gruesome Magazine. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  13. ^ Markos, Juan (11 August 2025). "Film Review: The Pearl Comb at Hollyshorts". Hollywood Times. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  14. ^ Ferguson, David (18 August 2025). "HollyShorts Film Festival 2025 Reviews". Red Carpet Crash. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  15. ^ "The Pearl Comb". St. Louis International Film Festival. 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Nashville Film Festival". Nashville Film Festival. 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  17. ^ a b c "Cliff49 Award Winners Announced". Cleveland International Film Festival. 2025. Archived from the original on 1 November 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  18. ^ a b "Vortex Awards". Rhode Island International Film Festival. 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  19. ^ "The Sea Devil is the festival's top prize for the best Fantastic feature film". Imagine Film Festival. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  20. ^ Clarke, Stewart (9 January 2026). "Oscar-Shortlisted Short Film 'The Pearl Comb' Lands On Disney+ As Miranda Richardson & David Lancaster Sign On As Exec Producers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  21. ^ Moser, Joey (28 July 2025). "Indy Shorts Announces Winners". The Contending. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
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