Project Detail

Burnt Toast

Burnt Toast
Boy in a mask peeking through dirty blinds and widow
Out of focus man in a rundown kitchen

Synopsis

A contemporary ghost story that resurrects legendary British comedian Tommy Cooper, who famously died mid-performance in 1984. Blending machine learning, VHS footage, archival materials, and a trained impersonator, the film follows Phil, an unemployed magician trapped in the decaying home of the director’s late schizophrenic uncle. Phil’s hallucinatory act navigates the alienation of late capitalism, touching on social class, identity, mental health, and delusion—all punctuated by his trademark jokes and failed magic tricks.
Official Selection International Film Festival Rotterdam 2026

Details

Year
2025
Type of project
Shorts
Running time
25 min 15 sec
Director
Helen Anna Flanagan
Producer
Helen Anna Flanagan
Editor
Helen Anna Flanagan
Screenwriter
Helen Anna Flanagan
Director of Photography
Oliver Hodges, George Ellis, Helen Anna Flanagan
Sound
Samuel Rogers, Mali Draper, Sebastian Pappalardo
Composer
Jackson Harvey
Principal cast
Daniel Taylor

Production Status

Page updates

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