AMUSEMENT
With the clock ticking on her trip to the amusements, a downbeat ten year old girl needs to act quickly to make her funds count and win her dream prize, but she hasn’t contended with the self-appointed king of the amusements and his attempts to thwart her simple plan.
AMUSEMENT, a short film following one girl’s unexpectedly magical adventure at the seaside arcade, was commissioned and supported by Screen South, Screen Ashford and Ashford Borough Council in the UK. It stars two emerging talented young actors and features Gavin & Stacey's Steve Meo and fan favourite Hayley-Marie Axe. The film is shot by Garath Whyte, the score was composed by legendary music producer John Fortis (Prodigy, Ellie Goulding, Lana del Ray) and colour graded by the peerless Greg Fisher at Company 3, whose work includes all of Yorgos Lanthimos' films.
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2026 / 10min / RED Komodo
Screen South / Screen Ashford / Ashford Borough Council
Cast: Joni Lambert, Jimmy Maslin Fong, Steve Meo, Hayley-Marie Axe
Director and Producer: Stephanie Zari
Writer and Executive Producer: Catherine Newell
Executive Producers: Jo Nolan, Rhidian Davis
Director of Photography: Garath Whyte
Editor: David Whyte
Composer: John Fortis
Hair, Make-Up & Designer: Toby Vincer
Sound Designer: Michael Griggs
Costume & Art Director: Jude O’Connor
Production Manager: Anna Chernova
1st Assistant Director: Gareth Lewis
FESTIVALS // PRESS // REVIEWS
Aesthetica Short Film Festival - Official Selection (BAFTA & BIFA Qualifying)
London Breeze Film Festival - Closing Night Gala and Official Selection (BIFA Qualifying)
Bournemouth International Film Festival - Official Selection
Screen South winning Short Film Commission
