Projects in genres: Romance

Synopsis

Mark, an anxious neat-freak and Mia, a chaotic, rebel are on a first date. They list through their red flags - the bar is so low you couldn't limbo under it! Despite their differences they appear made for each other, there's only one small problem... MEET-CUTE is a rapid-fire rom-com for the anxious, nerdy and neurodiverse. Jaded by endless dates that go nowhere with people too afraid to put their real personality out there, Mark and Mia decide to lay it all on the line, their pet peeves, red flags and their sexual hard nos! We see cutaways of their sad little lives and dating disasters. Whilst they're both odd balls and cultural snobs we can begin to see a connection forming however, the rug is pulled from under us at the last minute. A style that sits somewhere between Wes Anderson and Edgar Wright with a dash of 'Arrested Development' thrown in. A micro-short that packs a lot of punch.

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A chance encounter at a launderette sparks an intense emotional intimacy between Vinnie and Ryan. As closeness blurs into desire, their relationship forces them to confront what love demands before it fractures everything they have built.

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After school on a long summer's afternoon, neighbours Becky and Jake offer each other a safe haven from life at home - and a promise.

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A grieving father reunites with friends on a thrilling mystery adventure in the UK's wild west. But as a sinister plot unfolds, their perfect reunion quickly descends into a terrifying trip into the unknown.

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Set in a mosque waiting room in 1980s South Wales, and inspired by the true story of writer-director Sara Nourizadeh's parents, a young couple whose relationship crossed boundaries of culture, faith and expectation. At a time when Iranian politics dominated UK headlines and shaped public attitudes, a Welsh woman and her Iranian fiancé prepare for an Islamic conversion ceremony – a requirement they must fulfil if they are to marry. What follows is a quietly charged and emotionally intimate portrait of two people trying to navigate a moment that is both deeply personal and subtly political. As they wait for the ceremony to begin, small details – a trembling hand, a whispered joke, a fleeting moment of doubt – reveal the emotional stakes beneath the surface. Their conversation dances between humour and tension, affection and uncertainty, reflecting the push and pull of family pressures, cultural misunderstandings, and their own hopes for the future. Authentic VHS archive footage of the real couple is interwoven within this scripted drama, grounding the film in lived experience and offering an unexpectedly tender glimpse into the decades that followed.

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In present-day Taipei, Tao develops unexplainable affectionate feelings for Shin, an indifferent guy. Desperate to create lasting memories, she sends people to beat him up, using pain as a twisted form of connection. Meanwhile, Melih, having left Istanbul for Taipei, owns a noodle shop. One night, he receives an unexpected flower from the perpetually drunk Ping. Melih begins to stare into the flower from time to time, experiencing the tale of Tao and Shin and revealing his own unspoken desire and failed attempts to connect with Ping. As Melih digs deeper into the tale, he confronts his struggles to form meaningful relationships. His struggle gradually mirrors Tao’s struggle with Shin. As Tao grows closer to Shin, Shin vanishes, leaving Tao to realize that these recollections, retained only by her, might be mere figments of imagination. Tao’s tale then makes Melih question if it’s better to forget everything, as he contemplates whether letting go of solitary memories might finally bring him peace. Official selection CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Festival 2026 - Next:Wave Competition (World Premiere)

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A musical set amid the wild beauty of the Scottish Hebrides and the fierce joy of a wedding cèilidh. A moving story of queer joy and self-acceptance - a man returns to his hometown, where he faces the forces that drove him away. Official Selection BFI Flare London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2026 - World premiere Official Selection Tribeca Film Festival 2026 - International premiere

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A hopelessly romantic bisexual author revisits the relationships that shaped his life while reflecting on his autobiographical book My Heart Is Not Mine. Torn between love, faith, and self-worth, he confronts the emotional imprint left by one man and two women who each claimed a piece of a heart that never fully belonged to him.

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Ying, a Hong Kong immigrant, has recently moved to the UK with her husband and son. Far from the life she once imagined, Ying feels increasingly lost in her new surroundings. When she unexpectedly reunites with her ex-boyfriend Hong - now an exiled photographer working in a supermarket - long-buried emotions resurface. As they wander through London retracing the historic path of Sun Yat-sen, the two reflect on love, exile, and identity. A quiet, poetic exploration of longing, resilience, and the emotional cost of displacement.

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Twenty-two-year-old Shannon is the daughter of the dominant crime family in the area. Standing in the shadow of her father Dylan, she is desperately searching for romance and falls head over heels for Arran, a member of a rival crime family which has recently arrived in town. They develop a deep bond that changes both their lives for good, but not everyone around them is willing to accept it. While Shannon and Arran are pursuing their forbidden love, elsewhere things are imploding for Shannon’s family. However, rather than focusing on the crime world or the politics of succession, our gaze is directed towards the distinct emotional worlds of Shannon’s family – her parents Dylan and Cat, her older brother Luke and her indomitable grandma Ollie. Official Selection Berlin International Film Festival 2026 - Berlinale Special Series - World premiere

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A passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.

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Fab plans a surprise for Cassie on their first anniversary, but Cassie's rough day, coupled with a party popper mishap, leads to a heated argument over dinner options. What starts as a takeaway tiff over Caribbean or pizza spirals into an identity battle, revealing deep-seated resentments about their racial and queer identities. With half of the film shot in one take, FISH & CHIPS is a tender, unflinching exploration of mixed-heritage identity, queer love, and the fine line between connection and conflict. Official Selection BFI Flare London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2026