MOLLY
A chance encounter at a launderette sparks a meaningful connection 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.
Starring Hiroki Berrecloth & Frank Kauer
Coming Soon to Channel 4 in November 2026
Dir & DP: Darius Shu
Written by Darius Shu
Produced by: Kaushik Ray, Pooja Chauhan & Darius Shu
Prod Company: Taran Tantra Telefilms & Silverprince Pictures
FESTIVALS
Official Selection at Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2026 (Best British Film Nominee) (BAFTA & BIFA qualifying)
Official Selection at British Urban Film Festival 2026 (BAFTA & BIFA Qualifying)
Official Selection at Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 2026 (BIFA Qualifying)
Official Selection at Roze Filmdagen 2026
Official Selection at Queer East Festival 2026
Official Selection at Norwich Film Festival 2026 (BAFTA qualifying)
Official Selection at Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2026 (Canadian Screen Awards qualifying)
Official Selection at London Breeze Film Festival 2026 (BIFA qualifying)
Official Selection at Milktea Mixtape: Youth Edition 2026 (in collaboration with Picturehouse)
Official Selection at OutSouth Queer Film Festival 2026
Official Selection at Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2026
Official Selection at Fringe Queer & Art Fest 2026
Official Selection & In Competition at KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2026
Official Selection at Big Fridge International Film Festival 2026
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
Nominated: Cinematography in a Short Film at British Society of Cinematographers
Nominated: Best British Film at Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2026 (BAFTA qualifying)
Winner: Honourable Mention at Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 2026 (BIFA Qualifying)
Nominated: Best UK Film, Best Drama, Best LGBTQIA Film, Judges Recognition Award, Audience Choice Award at Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 2026 (BIFA Qualifying)
Winner: Best LGBTQIA+ Aware Film at Big Fridge International Film Festival 2026
Nominated: Best International Narrative Short, Best Screenplay, Best Performance in a Lead Role at KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2026
REVIEWS
Cineorama | Molly ☆☆☆☆
Queer Guru | Molly ☆☆☆☆☆
Filmotomy| Molly ☆☆☆☆
FlickFeast | Molly ☆☆☆☆
Abstract AF | Molly ☆☆☆☆
Film Carnage | Molly ☆☆☆☆
Film Threat | Molly ☆☆☆☆
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MOLLY is my most personal work to date, inspired by true lived experiences. A tender, defiant act of storytelling that reclaims space for the stories rarely seen on screen. As a British East Asian filmmaker, I’ve long felt the absence of narratives that reflect the intersections of my identity. MOLLY is both a love story and a quiet rebellion, one that invites the viewer into a world of silences, stares, and emotional complexity that often exists between the lines of dialogue.
This film is a return to my roots. I grew up in the margins, where people like me were side characters, if visible at all. With MOLLY, I wanted to centre characters who are typically unseen: British East Asian men navigating desire, asexuality, vulnerability, and the yearning for emotional connection. It’s a film about intimacy without labels, and about love that refuses to follow a conventional model of relationships. In doing so, I hope it speaks to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider looking in.
Visually, MOLLY is lyrical and restrained. Every frame composed with intention, every movement a reflection of unspoken emotion. Working as both the cinematographer and editor allowed me to craft a visual rhythm that mirrors the internal landscapes of the characters. I wanted the camera to linger, to listen, and to hold space in a way that feels honest, raw and immersive, and ultimately purely human.
What makes MOLLY radical is its subtlety. It doesn't shout. It breathes. It listens. It gives voice to those who are often silenced, not with spectacle, but with sincerity. It invites audiences to sit with their own feelings, encouraging them to interpret the story in ways that resonate with their personal lives and experiences.
This is more than a film. It’s a gesture of visibility, a cinematic love letter to my community, and a promise that our stories matter. I hope MOLLY offers a mirror to those who have never seen themselves reflected, and opens a window for others to witness a different kind of beauty.
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