George R.R. Martin’s ‘The Ugly Chickens’ to Premiere at HollyShorts

“The Ugly Chickens,” a short film from “Game of Thrones” creator George R.R. Martin, is set to premiere at Hollyshorts Film Festival.

Starring Felicia Day (“Supernatural”), the short is based on Howard Waldrop’s Nebula Award-winning famous story. Science fiction author Waldrop was a friend of Martin’s. He died in 2024. Martin has plans to adapt a further three of Waldrop’s short stories into films.

Martin said: “Howard saw a rough cut of [“The Ugly Chickens”] before he died. He liked it, which pleases me no end. I only wish we had been able to screen the final cut for him.”

Jennifer Dale (“Coroner”), Natalie Charles (“Suits”) and Mag Ruffman (“Alias Grace”) also star in the short, which was shot on location in Toronto,

“Upon learning that the supposedly extinct dodo bird might still exist, ornithology professor Paula Linberl sets out on a cross-country expedition to unravel the mystery,” reads the synopsis.

Mark Raso (“Copenhagen”) directs from a screenplay by Michael Cassutt (“Twilight Zone”).

Mauro Mueller and Philippe Woodtli produce for Fidelio Films alongside Martin’s company KVK and producers Elias Gallegos and Lenore Gallegos.

Salaud Morisset are repping international sales.

“The Ugly Chickens” will premiere at the festival’s opening night on Aug. 8.

Martin has been busy of late. As well as adapting Waldrop’s shorts and working on his own adaptation of “Fire & Blood,” which has come to screen as “House of the Dragon,” starring Matt Smith and Emma D’Arcy, Martin is also supposed to be finishing his long-awaited “A Song of Fire and Ice” series.

Check out the trailer for “The Ugly Chickens” below: