Short Film LEVIATHAN Makes Its UK Premiere at Breaking-TV Film Festival 2025

This Saturday, October 4th, audiences at the Breaking-TV Film Festival will be transported back to 1888 London as LEVIATHAN makes its highly anticipated UK premiere at the CEME Conference Centre, Rainham.

Based on the novel A Knife in the Fog by retired US Army physician Bradley Harper, LEVIATHAN is a chilling reimagining of the Jack the Ripper murders. The film imagines Arthur Conan Doyle before the fame of Sherlock Holmes joining forces with his mentor, Professor Joseph Bell, and writer-activist Margaret Harkness to hunt down the infamous killer ravaging Whitechapel.

Directed by James Mansell, the great-great-great grandson of Professor Bell himself, LEVIATHAN brings an extraordinary personal connection to history. Mansell directs from Harper’s script, with a stellar cast including Lauren Cornelius (Gavin & Stacey, Call the Midwife), Rafe Bird (Ripper’s Revenge), and Matthew Lloyd Davies (The Madness of King George).

Behind the camera, the project boasts an accomplished creative team:

• Ed Curtis (Director of Photography)

• Mat Hamilton (Original Score)

• Kathryn Poon (Costume Designer – You, Killing Eve)

• Jenny Dee (Production Designer – Breeders, This Is Christmas)

• Mitchell Tolliday (Editor – Murder Ballads: How to Make It in Rock ‘n’ Roll)

LEVIATHAN further cements James Mansell’s reputation as one of Britain’s rising genre directors. His work, which spans horror, sci-fi, and music video, has screened internationally at festivals including Popcorn Frights, Chicago Horror Film Festival, and The British Horror Film Festival. Previous shorts such as NIGHTMARES and RUPTURED have won multiple awards and found global audiences on platforms like DUST, CryptTV, Amazon Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus.

As the fog rolls in over Rainham this weekend, festival audiences will witness the first UK screening of a dark, atmospheric tale that bridges literary history and horror legend. With its blend of crime, history, and gothic suspense, LEVIATHAN promises to be one of the festival’s standout premieres.

🎬 LEVIATHAN screens at the Breaking-TV Film Festival on Saturday, October 4th at the CEME Conference Centre, London (RM13 8EU), as part of the official selection.