Acid
Written & Directed by Just Philippot
2018, France
French filmmaker Philippot brings death from above as a family tries to survive an environmental disaster in this very well-made apocalyptic short.
Philippot made his feature film debut with the insect attack movie The Swarm (2020) and a feature-length version of Acid premiered in 2023.
The Herd
Directed by Colin A. Borden
Written by Andy Nellis
2016, USA
This brutal, well-made short offers a disturbing look at the post-apocalyptic food chain.
Director Borden has focused primarily on comedy in subsequent short film work, which is unfortunate for lovers of horror as the memorable The Herd packs a punch.
Pantser
Written & Directed by Jan Verdijk
2021, Netherlands
During a deadly pandemic, two sisters hide away in their isolated country home. Their safety is threatened by a mysterious stranger who offers to help them.
Pantser, also known as Shielded, is a slow-burn apocalyptic short that wants to work as a drama and succeeds. In addition to excellent cinematography, Pantser also features an outstanding electronic music score by Koen van de Wardt.
Auteur Verdijk also made the horror short films Wild (2018) and A Stranger from the Past (2020). His feature film debut Alice is in post-production as of this writing.
The Ash: Safe Haven
Directed by Marty Stalker
Written by Spence Wright
2017, Ireland
As a wave of volcanic ash cripples the countryside, a young boy is left with an elderly caretaker and must face the deadly side-effects of the environmental disaster.
The Ash: Safe Haven-intended to launch a feature film-is a very well-made, heartfelt look at a life-shattering event highlighted by the great cinematography of Angus Mitchell.
When the Time Comes
Directed by Jondaniel Cornett & Jonathan Frey
Written by Jondaniel Cornett
2022, USA
Having previously made the horror short films Dodah (2019) and Skopein (2019), Jondaniel Cornett delivers what is by far his most accomplished work with When the Time Comes.
An extremely well-acted, emotional journey into a post-apocalyptic setting, When the Times Comes makes a great pairing with Aaron McCann & Stefan Androv Radanovich’s Perished, Ben Howling & Yolanda Ramke’s Cargo and Alex Horwitz’s Alice Jacobs is Dead.
Fish Out of Water
Written & Directed by Kirsten Carthew
2015, Canada
In a wintry post-apocalyptic world, a young woman fishes on a frozen lake for her only source of food. When another survivor arrives on the scene, the woman’s solitary way of life stands to change permanently.
Those who like their apocalyptic cinema on the frigid side should watch this accomplished short as a double-feature with Daniel Byers’ Ice Man.
Auteur Carthew’s futuristic feature film Polaris has its world premiere at this year’s Fantasia Film Festival.
Ice Man
Written & Directed by Daniel Byers
2019, USA
A survivor known as “Ice Man” battles a band of cannibals in a snowy, post-apocalyptic world.
Auteur Byers creates a very memorable short, successfully channeling Richard Matheson’s classic novel I Am Legend along the way.
Byers had previously made the period zombie short Bloodyback (2016) and is currently in post-production on the feature film Banishment.
Narrow
Written & Directed by Anna Chazelle
2020, USA
Auteur Chazelle stars as a survivor in a post-apocalyptic world being pursued by a creature that presents itself in different guises.
Narrow makes the most of its clearly limited budget and, also doing its job as an industry calling-card, has landed Chazelle her first feature directing job on an Elmore Leonard adaptation.
Epoch
Written & Directed by Rich Lee
2018, USA
A woman travels through a ravaged, post-apocalyptic America, stopping to gather supplies.
Her encounter with two survivors leads to some unexpected revelations.
Epoch‘s production design and art direction are spectacular and its visual effects team does a tremendous job creating the film’s devastated road-trip backdrop, which is one of the most impressive you will ever see in a short film.
Engineers
Directed by Tyler A. Williams
Written by Tyler A. Williams & Dean Tardioli
2016, Canada
This short’s abandoned factory setting helps deliver the atmosphere as Tyler A. Williams gives viewers an enigmatic but compelling glimpse into a post-apocalyptic world, channeling a bit of the classic Frankenstein story along the way.