STATUS: A short LGBTQ+ film.

LOGLINE:

After a traumatic assault, a gay man battles crippling anxiety and fear of the outside world, anchored by the quiet, unwavering love of his partner, who becomes his strength when his own falters.

CONCEPTS & THEMES:

Resilience and Healing:

The story addresses fear, trauma, and the journey toward reclaiming a sense of safety. The key theme is breaking through emotional walls built by fear and shame, and the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability, especially in the face of societal judgment.

LGBTQ+ Representation:

“Breaking Through the Fear” illuminates the realities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, emphasising the resilience needed to live openly and authentically.

FULL SYNOPSIS:

Charlie, a man left traumatised after a brutal hate crime, isolated and anxious, finds it nearly impossible to step outside his flat, haunted by the violence he endured. His partner, Toby, offers steadfast support, but even simple acts, like holding hands in public, become fraught with anxiety and tension. As Charlie battles panic attacks and self-doubt, the couple’s relationship is tested by the weight of trauma and the challenge of moving forward in a city where hate crimes are on the rise. Through moments of tenderness, frustration, and courage, Charlie and Toby must find a way to reclaim their lives, their love, and their place in the world.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES:

This film isn’t about violence – it’s about what happens after.

With co-creator Wesley Mahoney, we set out to explore how trauma seeps into relationships, and how love can be both a comfort and a challenge in its wake. Toby’s role as Charlie’s anchor is the emotional core of Breaking Through the Fear. His quiet strength and empathy reveal that healing isn’t just the survivor’s journey; it’s something shared and built between two people who refuse to give up on each other.

The inspiration for my first LGBTQ+ short, Your Heart is Homeless, came from a personal experience that has stayed with me for decades: as a gay man, I was once trapped in my own home with someone I’d just met, whose demeanour suddenly turned aggressive. That fear and vulnerability are feelings many LGBTQ+ people know all too well. With that film, I set out to explore these silent struggles.

With Breaking Through the Fear, Wesley and I wanted to continue this exploration, especially as hate crimes against LGBTQIA+ people in London and across the UK have risen sharply in recent years. These statistics represent real people living with real fear. Our film is a response to that reality, focusing on the aftermath—how trauma lingers, and how love and support can help reclaim a sense of safety and hope.

Both Breaking Through the Fear and Your Heart is Homeless are intended as the foundation for a feature project we are developing. Our goal is to expand these themes into a feature-length narrative, weaving together multiple perspectives and experiences to create a powerful, authentic portrait of LGBTQ+ life and resilience.

Made on a micro-budget, this film was only possible thanks to the dedication and generosity of everyone involved. Ultimately, it’s about agency, solidarity, and hope. We hope it resonates with anyone who has ever felt afraid to be themselves and encourages empathy, understanding, and open conversation.

Actual Runtime: 15 mins
Shoot Dates: January/February 2025
Current Status: Complete
Release Year 2026

The original PITCHDECK for ‘Breaking Through the Fear’ can be found here:

https://pitch.com/v/breaking-through-the-fear-rx9sp8/4f7ecb86-8787-4564-825d-9a897db835c1

Film Type
Production Status
Release Year
Runtime
Scope Container
Frame Rate
Audio

 

Narrative Short Film – LGBTQ+
COMPLETE
2026
15 Minutes
2.39:1
25fps
5.1