Nightmare at Christmas exhibition and Crypt Pop-Up Cinema to raise funds for The Film and TV Charity

Independent production banner TrixStarT, based in East Sussex, has announced Nightmare at Christmas, an immersive multi-sensory folk-horror exhibition and pop-up micro-cinema running 16th–20th December 2026 at The Crypt Gallery in Seaford.

At the forefront of the five-day event is an industry fundraising initiative in aid of The Film and TV Charity, supporting the mental health, wellbeing, and financial stability of behind-the-scenes screen professionals across the UK. All proceeds from hands-on creative workshops and an exclusive silent art auction will be donated directly to the charity.

The silent auction will feature rare, tactile cinema props, sculptural pieces, and original dark art created across TrixStarT’s indie film slate.

Handcrafted Film Props, Creature Design & Medieval Undercroft Cinema

Staged within the historic 13th-century flint undercroft of The Crypt Gallery, the exhibition immerses visitors in the physical textures of cinematic world-building.

Guests will encounter:

• The Dark Art & Prop Gallery: A curated showcase of physical SFX props, hand-turned and forged artifacts, stained glass, and layered mask sculpts alongside innovative generative AI visual effects pipelines.

• The Undercroft Pop-Up Cinema: Continuous screenings of dark folklore cinema within the medieval vaults, showcasing bold solo-auteur filmmaking that bridges traditional artisan craft and next-generation VFX.

• Creative Trade Masterclasses: Ticketed, hands-on mask-making and prop fabrication workshops led by industry practitioners, designed to inspire the next wave of independent filmmakers and prop-makers.

Celebrating Acclaimed Actor M. Killen & Global Festival Awards

The micro-cinema’s headline programme spotlights the standout performance of stage and screen actor M. Killen, whose breakout collaborative work across TrixStarT productions has earned international critical acclaim. Killen was recently awarded Best Actor at the London Nights Film Festival for his compelling, transformative lead role, marking a major milestone in the creative partnership. Across 8 TrixStarT films, actor M. Killen has captured 41 festival accolades, leading a sweep of 17 outright wins:

• Major Wins: Best Shorts Competition (Leading Actor Winner), Accolade Global Film Competition (Leading Winner), Brussels World Film Festival, Hollywood Gold Awards, London Movie Awards, Florence Film Awards, Bangkok Movie Awards, and the Cinematic European Film Festival.

• Top Finalists & Honors: Stockholm City Film Festival (Honorable Mention), East Village New York (Honorable Mention), Athens International Art Film Festival, Kyoto Independent, and Palermo.

• Key Selections: Top Indie Film Awards, LA Film & Documentary Awards, and FilmHaus (Semi-Finalist).

Total Breakdown: 17 Wins, 11 Finalists/Semi-Finalists, 4 Honorable Mentions/Nominations, and 9 Official Selections.

In the past year alone, TrixStarT has:

• Surpassed 190,000 subscribers on YouTube, earning the YouTube Silver Creator Award.

• Amassed over 70 international film festival awards and more than 200 official selections globally across London, Paris, Berlin, Seoul, and Los Angeles.

Event Details & Admission

• Event: Nightmare at Christmas: A TrixStarT Horror Exhibition & Pop-Up Cinema Experience

• Dates: Wednesday 16th – Sunday 20th December 2026

• Venue: The Crypt Gallery, 23 Church Street, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 1HD

• Admission: General exhibition and pop-up cinema entry is Free. Workshop reservations and silent auction catalogue available on site and online.

• Charity Partner: The Film and TV Charity (Registered Charity No. 1099660)