Bloodbuzz, the narrative directorial debut from Suffolk filmmaker Daisy Bata, has been selected for the festival’s East Coast Film showcase, celebrating the best filmmaking talent from across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Set against the haunting backdrop of the Suffolk countryside, Bloodbuzz follows Lianna, a troubled teenager convinced humanity is on the brink of extinction as climate-mutated, body-snatching mosquitoes begin to spread across the world. As those closest to her question her increasingly desperate warnings, the film blurs the line between paranoia and reality, becoming a powerful exploration of conspiracy thinking, gaslighting and feminine rage.
For Daisy Bata, bringing the film back to Suffolk carries special significance.
“We’re so excited to bring Bloodbuzz back to its hometown of Suffolk,” she said.
“It’s my first film as a writer-director after transitioning from investigative journalism and documentary producing. The story was inspired by libertarians and preppers I met while working on a Channel 4 documentary in the United States, but setting it in Suffolk felt completely natural. The landscape has such a unique atmosphere that it became a character in its own right.”
Since premiering, Bloodbuzz has won praise from horror audiences for combining psychological tension with dark humour and social commentary, drawing comparisons to classics including Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Fly and The Last of Us.
Leading the cast is Beth Taylor, whose performance as Lianna anchors the film’s increasingly surreal descent into fear and uncertainty.
“For me, Bloodbuzz is a wonderful exploration of gaslighting and feminine rage,” said Taylor. “Lianna is constantly being told not to trust her instincts, and that’s something many people will recognise beneath all of the sci-fi and horror elements.”
Although Bloodbuzz marks Daisy’s first narrative short as a writer-director, storytelling has long been part of her life.
“I grew up on film sets and cinema has always been more of a religion than anything else in our family,” she said. “Working in documentaries taught me how to solve problems creatively, think on my feet and, above all, tell compelling stories. This film felt like the right moment to bring those experiences into fiction.”
Joshua Freemantle, Festival Director of Sunrise Film Festival, said showcasing films made by East Anglian filmmakers remains central to the festival’s mission.
“One of the things we’re most passionate about is celebrating the incredible filmmaking talent we have here in East Anglia. We’re delighted to welcome Bloodbuzz back to Suffolk, giving local audiences the opportunity to experience an exciting new voice in British genre cinema while celebrating a filmmaker with strong roots in the region.”
Bloodbuzz will screen as part of the East Coast Film programme on Thursday 20 August at the Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, alongside a selection of outstanding short films made across Norfolk and Suffolk. The showcase forms part of the 2026 Sunrise Film Festival, which brings together filmmakers and audiences from around the world while championing the region’s thriving creative community.
You can view the festival screening here – https://sunrisefilmfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/east-coast-film-15-6a14a8714238135dd997fa9f
