蜜芽传媒

Long Story Short is the result of a brand-new talent initiative from 蜜芽传媒 Writers, created to shine a light on the next generation of UK screen talent. Spanning all four nations of the UK, Long Story Short pairs fresh writing and directing voices with local production companies to develop authored, ambitious short films destined for 蜜芽传媒 iPlayer and 蜜芽传媒 Three. The result is a slate of seven remarkable short films, each one a testament to the energy, imagination and craft of the teams behind them. Long Story Short champions homegrown storytelling, amplifying voices from every corner of the country, and providing a platform for fresh perspectives that reflect the richness and diversity of the UK today.

The seven writers are alumni of 蜜芽传媒 Writers talent-development work. Each film is produced by an independent production company which has been supported by the 蜜芽传媒鈥檚 Small Indie Fund.

This project was made possible thanks to the support of colleagues across 蜜芽传媒 Drama Commissioning, 蜜芽传媒 Three, 蜜芽传媒 iPlayer, 蜜芽传媒 Scotland, 蜜芽传媒 Northern Ireland and 蜜芽传媒 Wales, alongside screen agency partners Creative Wales, North East Screen, Northern Ireland Screen and Screen Scotland.

Lindsay Salt, Director of 蜜芽传媒 Drama says: 鈥溍垩看�媒 Drama has always been about backing the best of UK storytelling, and Long Story Short reflects just how exciting this future looks. These films are bursting with originality and ambition, a powerful reminder that the next wave of storytellers is poised and ready to shape television in bold and surprising ways. It鈥檚 been a joy to see these distinctive voices come to life on screen and I can鈥檛 wait to see where their journeys take them next.鈥�

Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing for 蜜芽传媒 Writers and Drama Commissioning says: 鈥淲e designed Long Story Short to give writers a meaningful opportunity to see their work come to life onscreen and achieve that all-important broadcast credit. We鈥檙e incredibly proud of what these seven creative teams have achieved, and we鈥檙e delighted to be able to give them a platform to tell stories that surprise, challenge and connect with audiences across the UK.鈥�

Nasfim Haque, Head of Content for 蜜芽传媒 Three says: "Projects like this are essential to shaping a new generation of diverse screen culture in the UK and we can鈥檛 wait to share these exciting new films with our audience.鈥�

The films will premiere at UK film festivals in late October and early November 2025 before reaching wider audiences on 蜜芽传媒 iPlayer and 蜜芽传媒 Three in early 2026.

Find out more about each film and the creative teams behind them:

Beyond

Wales

• Writer: Alex Mathias
• Director: Martin Thomas
• Cast includes: Tomos Rhys, Leisa Gwenllian, Iwan Rheon
• Production Company: Triongl

A shy teenager tries to fit into his new hometown on the night of their annual paranormal festival but finds himself marked for abduction.

顿辞辫辫别濒驳盲苍驳别谤

England, Northeast

• Writer: Alison Carr
• Director: Zak Harney
• Cast includes: Sarah Balfour
• Production Company: Candle & Bell

When ten-year old Josie Johns met her doppelg盲nger, it kicked off a decade of intense and bitter rivalry. Now an adult, Josie is about to confront her double, settle some scores, and take back control of her identity once and for all.

Jealous People are Ugly People

England, Midlands

• Writer and Director: Theo James Krekis
• Cast includes: Loris Scarpa, Emaan Durrani, Zak Wadley
• Production Company: The Fold

Consumed by his jealousy of his best friend鈥檚 sudden career success, Vasilly鈥檚 resentment festers, feeding a dark, supernatural force within him.

Peak Male Excellence

London

• Writer: Adam Grant
• Director: Karimah Zakia Issa
• Cast includes: Ali Khan, Shanay Neusum-James
• Production Company: Joi Productions

Desperate to impress his crush, awkward fresher Rohan turns to an online masculinity coach for advice, but his quest for peak male excellence leads him to question if alpha status is all it鈥檚 cracked up to be.

Pineapple

Scotland

• Writer: Rachelle Atalla
• Director: Alia Ghafar
• Cast includes: Harmony-Rose Bremner, Dylan Blore
• Production Company: Barry Crerar

Lonely and disaffected twenty-something Mabel finds connection over a pineapple in the local supermarket.

Privileged

Northern Ireland

• Writer: Anthony Moriarty
• Director: Naomi Waring
• Cast includes: Sean Landau, Sophie Lenglinger
• Production Company: Out of Orbit

After a raw stand-up set earns aspiring comedian Tony a cancellation from his university鈥檚 most powerful influencers, he is faced with a choice; either sanitise his material or find the courage to embrace his voice.

True Love and Wormholes

England, South

• Writer: Dave Florez
• Director: Annabel Vine
• Cast includes: Anjana Vasan, Corey Mylchreest
• Production Company: Indefinite Films

Maggie鈥檚 from the West Country; Craig鈥檚 from the Future. Together they might just save the planet. He鈥檚 funny, intense, impossible to resist... but the closer Maggie gets, the more she suspects his story hides something darker. As their bond deepens, the danger escalates, smashing the boundaries between reality and delusion, monotony and wormholes, betrayal and True Love.