Q&A with Shay Kuehlmann – Happy Death Day

Films
August 21, 2025
By, Joshua Freemantle

We spoke to the directors of Happy Death Day - Shay Kuehlmann and Kate Roxburgh - about the film, their inspiration behind it, and why film festivals like Sunrise are important.

Q: What is Happy Death Day about?

A: In a small town where everyone knows the exact moment they will die, Mira prepares for her final day exactly how she wants – throwing a party, saying her goodbyes, and leaving nothing to chance.

Happy Death Day is a surreal, darkly comic reflection on how we might face death if we were given the choice.

Q: What sparked the idea for this story, and why did you want to tell it now?

A: The idea came out of a time when death felt closer to all of us.

We started thinking about control – what it means to have everything in order, to leave no chaos behind – and how we might choose to spend our final moments if we knew exactly when they were coming.

That became the world of Happy Death Day: a surreal little town where everyone knows the moment of their death, and each person finds their own way to say goodbye.

Some go out with a bang, some seek peace, some carry on like nothing’s ending.

I was drawn to the subtleties in those choices, and how they quietly reflect who we are – and where we are – in life.

Q: What was the most rewarding – or challenging – part of making the film?

A: Balancing tone was the biggest challenge – making space for humour without losing the emotional weight underneath.

We wanted the surreal to feel lived-in, the characters to feel real even in the strangest moments.

The most rewarding part was seeing how the team brought that world to life with such care, honesty, and restraint.

Q: Why do you think film festivals are important for short-form filmmakers today?

A: Festivals create a space for stories to be seen, shared and talked about.

For short-form work, which rarely has a commercial outlet, festivals are where films find their audience – and where filmmakers find community.

They’re as much about connection as they are about recognition.

Q: What does being shortlisted for Best British Short Film mean to you and your team?

A: It’s a huge honour. Happy Death Day was a film made with a lot of care, a lot of belief, and a brilliant team behind it.

Being recognised by a BIFA-qualifying festival like Sunrise is a real moment of pride for all of us, and a chance to celebrate what we built together.