Designing Dundead 2025
Q&A with Dundead 2025 illustrator Katriona Gillon
Dundead 2025, the thirteenth edition of our horror and cult film festival, is fast approaching. Taking place from Thu 8 to Sun 11 May, it brings four days of premieres, Italian horror, short films and special guests to Cinema 1.
You may have noticed this year's logo adorning posters and our cinema screens. Celebrating our Italian horror retrospective strand and inspired by Suspiria, this design was created for us by Dundee-based illustrator Katriona Gillon. Ahead of the festival we caught up with Katriona to find out more about the idea behind it and what she's looking forward to seeing at Dundead 2025.
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Hi Katriona - can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your illustration style?
Of course! My name is Katriona and I’m an illustrator, writer and game designer. I like working on anything narrative or character driven - really anything that lets me tell or explore a story.
I’m particularly drawn to work that incorporates sci-fi, fantasy or horror, so the chance to work on this year’s Dundead illustration felt right up my alley!
I’m particularly drawn to work that incorporates sci-fi, fantasy or horror, so the chance to work on this year’s Dundead illustration felt right up my alley!
We love the Dundead illustration you've created for this year's festival. Where did the inspiration come from?
When I watched the festival’s flagship film Suspiria, I felt right away I had all the inspiration I needed to work with. It’s such a visually rich film, with these very intense colours and distinct symbolism. It took quite a while to pare down all of my notes and figure out what I wanted to focus on.
Eventually, I decided on the eye design for a few different reasons. It’s largely based on lead actor Jessica Harpers’ distinct round eyes and the many shots that feature her staring horrified and wide-eyed towards the camera, as well as being a commonly recognised horror trope. But, I also felt it symbolised the premise of the movie well – the discovery of hidden secrets.
In that same vein, I wanted to put a few little hidden secrets into the illustration itself, with the centre of the iris featuring a backlit halo of the movie’s antagonist, as well as the pearl hatpin that we see used towards the end of the film. Even the concept of a ‘secret iris’ in itself, is a nod to one of the film’s major plot points.
You made it in both red and blue - do you have a favourite colourway?
Red – I like that it means the bottom part of the illustration can be interrupted as teardrops or bloodstains.
I wanted to put a few little hidden secrets into the illustration itself, with the centre of the iris featuring a backlit halo of the movie’s antagonist, as well as the pearl hatpin that we see used towards the end of the film.
What's your relationship to horror films? Do you have one you go back to again and again?
I like horror as a genre, but I also get scared very easily so I don’t watch that many horror films! I value my sleep too much. I did recently watch Sinners (at DCA) which I really enjoyed – and I also really like more psychological horrors such as I Saw The TV Glow.
I don’t think there’s any one film I’ve watched over and over again, but in terms of films that have really stuck with me, I’d go for Jordon Peele’s Nope. It didn’t scare me much watching it at the time, but later on I found my thoughts kept returning to it (usefully late at night, lying in bed). Something about it just really got under my skin and unsettled me. Also, chimpanzees are just legitimately quite frightening.
We've got a selection of premieres and vintage titles at this year's festival - what's you top pick from our line-up?
I’m very excited to see the premiere of Darkest Miriam and I’d also really like to make it to For Night Will Come (I have a soft spot for vampires). For a bit of, albeit very gory, fun I might just take myself along to Zombie Flesh Eaters.
Thanks Katriona! We can't wait to see you at the festival.
Print Studio Coordinator Aoife Cawley has been busy printing some limited-edition screen prints featuring this year's Dundead design. For everyone who's booked a Full Pass, you'll get one of these, and it'll be a surprise whether you get a blue or a red one. Get a behind-the-scenes look at these being created below.
We've also got t-shirts printed with the red design. These will be going to both Full and Half Pass holders, as well as being available from DCA Shop. Book your pass here or pick up some merch while you're at the festival. If you've already got your pass, we'll be sending out info about picking up your merch very soon.
Dundead 2025
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