Hatching writer Ilja Rautsi is making his feature directorial debut on the Finnish horror-comedy Red Snow, Screen Daily has learned.

It follows a 16-year-old girl who dreams of a glittering vampire prince but instead is met on the night before Christmas by a balding, beer-bellied 49-year-old bloodsucker in a Santa suit who invades homes and devours entire families.

Jussi Award-winning actor Hannu-Pekka Björkman stars alongside a rising cast led by Anni Iikkanen.

Finland’s Bufo, Estonia’s Allfilm, and Sweden’s Hobab produce in association with the Finnish Film Foundation.

Red Snow is currently in production in Tallinn, Estonia, and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

B-Plan Distribution will release the film in Finland, while Paris-based outfit Charades is launching sales at the upcoming American Film Market.

Rautsi’s 2018 short film Helsinki Mansplaining Massacre played at more than 100 festivals and won over a dozen prizes.