A Tail is a BIFA-qualified, female-led short film starring comedy content creator Hayley Morris, guaranteed to leave you better for having seen it.
What is ‘A Tail’ about?
Written by BAFTA Rocliffe winner Finola Waller and directed by Rosie Gaunt‑Mathieson, A Tail follows Gemma Pearson (Morris), who wakes up to discover she’s grown a mermaid tail overnight, on the day of an important job interview!
With her sister’s help (Letty Butler), Gemma puts on a brave face for her crucial day, facing objectification and body shaming along the way.
Gemma also finds inner strength and self-love in a film that superbly blends social commentary with absurd humour, body horror and tenderness.
“A Tail for me is a bold and bonkers film for anyone whose body has done mad shit, let them down or caused perceived shame,” says Gaunt‑Mathieson.
“I wanted to make something tonally unique, dancing from physical comedy to absurd societal commentary to body horror – with the tail itself both a painful, clumsy burden and a thing of beauty that generates power.
“With its cyclical, uncontrollable nature, the tail becomes an accessible allegory for the female experience – a supernatural fable set in the modern world.”
A perfect leading lady
Morris is the perfect performer to bring Gemma’s story to life in A Tail.
Her comedic online footprint has seen her amass over 10 million followers across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, where she shines a light on intrusive thoughts, anxieties and womanhood.
Morris’ social media success translates into a thoughtful, witty and characterful performance as Gemma.
Her character is the short film’s primary focus, and conduit for its messages on female bodies and the perception of them in wider society.
Such is Morris’ skill in handling these themes; A Tail hits the spot dead on.
In fact, the whole production infuses the story with wry wit that leaves a smile on your face, while still leaving room to ponder on its themes.
The tale of ‘A Tail’
Filming on A Tail took place last year, and the micro-budget production was shot over four days in Brighton and Sussex.
This tiny production showcases filmmaking prowess across prosthetics, VFX, underwater filming and stunt work.
A Tail premiered at the BIFA‑recognised Brighton Rocks International Film Festival and immediately hit the ground running with positive recognition, finishing runner‑up in the Made in Brighton category.
Since then, the film has screened across the UK and the world, making stops at the likes of Worcester Film Festival, where it was nominated for best VFX, and the SWAN Perth International Women in Film Festival, where it won the Champagne Award for Best International Short with a Female Lead.
It’s also made stops at the Mansfield Town International Film Festival, Female Pilot Club, Hastings Rocks International Film Festival and the San Jose International Short Film Festival (Oscar‑qualifying selection).
A Tail was produced by Nick Leadbitter, with cinematography by Luke Bryant and an original score by Karina Byrne.
The film continues to screen at festivals worldwide.
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