Soul Catalyst Films unveils The Hidden Healer – a powerful fantasy wrestling with contemporary angst

Belfast, Northern Ireland Mar 12, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Soul Catalyst Films is proud to announce the release of The Hidden Healer, a 24-minute medieval-fantasy drama produced on a £13,000 budget and filmed on location at an abandoned Welsh homestead near Bleary, Co Armagh.The film tells the story of Killian, a gifted healer living in a brutal world torn by war. His supernatural ability to eliminate pain and heal traumatic injuries becomes both his blessing and his curse. As political tensions and violence escalate, Killian wrestles with whether his power is helping the world  or making it even worse.Director Ted Cox said: "Writer Alex Reimer was really inspired to look at the increasing sectarianism in the world and wanted to write something that spoke into that. "While I believe we have an original storyline with intense acting and crazy battle scenes, I hope the film can also spark conversations around the issues of deep polarisation and how we respond to that." 

Lead Actor and Cast
The lead role of Killian is played by Michael Ellen Sean, a Belfast actor known for his physical intensity and creative energy. "I love Michael. He came in and had a really incredible audition," said Ted. "He's just a delightful, creative, and very physical actor. He just brings a lot of intensity to the table." The supporting cast includes Timothy OSullivan, known for The Northman, Dungeons and Dragons, and How to Train Your Dragon, and Andrew McClay, recognised from over 10 episodes of Game of Thrones and Belfast theatre productions.
"The film is really based around a great bunch of Irish guys, many of them who are very experienced in the industry, and I think they should be recognised for their craft here," Ted added.

Epic Battle Scenes and Locations
To achieve realistic battle sequences, the production team enlisted local Viking reenactment clubs."These guys spend their weekends battering each other with swords, hammers and shields so we were thrilled to have them on board," Ted laughed. "They take it so seriously that one of them told me that if you want to join you first have to serve your time as a Viking slave before you can work your way up." Filming took place on a long-abandoned Welsh homestead near Bleary, Co Armagh a setting that perfectly captured the mix of isolation and decay the story demanded. Apparently, the original family traveled from Wales 600 years ago and brought with them the roof of their house and blue slate tales native to their part of Wales. While the roof is long gone, the slate tiles still litter the property. 

Crew and Production
The international crew included American, Canadian, and Irish creatives, with Mercer MacWilliam Hughes overseeing sound and Tim OSullivan, who also helped coordinate the Viking fighters. Produced by Soul Catalyst Films of Lisburn, The Hidden Healer continues the companys mission to make thoughtful, human-centred art. Since 2014, Soul Catalyst has produced eight films for online and festival audiences. "We aim to create art that values people," says Ted. "We aim to give our cast and crew an enjoyable working environment which allows them to fully invest in their art without a lot of compromises and challenges."

Behind the Scenes
Fun is a defining element of Soul Catalysts productions.
Ted confesses: "One day during filming our fight choreographer didn't show up, so I had to announce - 'okay I'm the choreographer now'. I had so much fun running around with all these Vikings swinging swords and choreographing these battles. I came home that day and my wife, Brandy, looked at me, and said: 'You look like a 12 year old kid. What have you been doing all day?'" He has also revived in-person casting since Covid. "I just hear that everyone loves in-person casting," he said. Since Covid it has become the norm for actors to send in a tape if they want to be considered for a role, he says. "But honestly, I can't tell from their tapes what they can really do, because the main thing that I'm looking for is - Can they take direction?"

About Soul Catalyst Films
Founded in 2014 in Germany and relocated to Lisburn in 2020, Soul Catalyst Films is an independent production company creating stories that blend imagination with emotional truth. With a commitment to valuing people both on and off screen, their work continues to earn attention for creativity and heart.

Film: The Hidden Healer
Length: 24 minutesBudget: £13,000
Director: Ted CoxProduction Company: Soul Catalyst Films
Location: Bleary, County Armagh
Genre: Medieval Fantasy / Drama

???? www.filmfreeway.com/TheHiddenHealer