What would you do if someone you loved suddenly disappeared — and the world insisted they never existed?

I’m Maxine, a Swedish and Belgian writer/director born and raised in Hong Kong. My work blends cinematic storytelling with philosophical ideas, creating films that stay with audiences long after the credits roll.

My first short film, Fated, explored the contrast between rural and urban China. My most recent film, Choosing Life, set in St Andrews, Scotland, inspired women to leave abusive relationships and reclaim their independence.

Now I’m in Nepal collaborating with producer/director Anup Sapkota and his production company to create my next short film, Finding You.

Anup has directed major campaigns for international and regional brands such as Coca‑Cola while remaining deeply committed to meaningful storytelling and developing Nepal’s film industry.

Together, we’re combining our international perspectives with local filmmaking talent to bring this story to life.

We’re raising £5,000 by the end of August to complete the film in October 2026 and submit it to BAFTA‑qualifying festivals around the world.

1. About the Film

Logline:

After dreaming about a fatal motorbike accident with his girlfriend Sapna, Abinesh wakes to find that she has vanished. As the world insists she never existed and the police grow suspicious of his behaviour, he spirals into an obsessive search to uncover the truth.

Genre: Psychological Thriller / Drama

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal

Length: 10–15 minutes

Finding You is a psychological thriller that explores the fragile relationship between memory and reality.

When Abinesh wakes from a vivid dream of a violent accident involving his girlfriend Sapna, he initially dismisses it as nothing more than a nightmare. But as the day unfolds, something deeply unsettling begins to emerge: Sapna appears to have never existed at all.

Her messages are gone.

Her photos have vanished.

Even his closest friend doesn’t remember her.

As Abinesh searches the streets of Kathmandu for answers, fragments of memory and surreal flashes begin to surface, forcing him to question whether he is chasing the truth or losing his mind.

2. Why This Film

Rather than centering on a traditional social issue, Finding You explores a universal human fear: the possibility of losing someone not just from your life, but from reality itself. It asks a haunting question: what happens when the only evidence of someone’s existence lives inside your memory?

Kathmandu plays a vital role in the storytelling. Its vibrant streets, temples, and chaotic energy mirror Abinesh’s psychological unraveling as he desperately searches for answers in a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar. By grounding the mystery within the rich cultural landscape of Nepal, the film becomes not only visually striking but also layered with subtle clues and symbolism. As Abinesh moves through the city, elements of Nepal’s culture, spirituality, and environment add unexpected dimensions to the suspense, offering fragments of meaning that gradually reveal themselves as the story unfolds.

My filmmaking has always been inspired by philosophical ideas, exploring questions about fate, life, and human connection. With Finding You, I want to create a film that not only grips audiences with suspense, but also leaves them reflecting long after the story ends. My goal is that this film resonates with audiences worldwide and serves as a strong calling card for the next stage of my filmmaking journey.

3. What Your Support Will Make Possible

Your support will help us bring Finding You to life at the level this story deserves. Every contribution will go directly toward the essential elements of production, including:

Budget Breakdown:

4. The Team

Maxine Lidman – Writer/Director

Maxine is a Swedish and Belgian writer/director who grew up in Hong Kong and began making films at a young age, directing her first short Fated at 15 in Hangzhou, China. She later wrote, produced, and directed Choosing Life in St Andrews, Scotland, a short film encouraging women to leave abusive relationships, with proceeds donated to a women’s charity. Over the past year she has gained professional on‑set experience in Sri Lanka and Nepal, working as an Assistant Director and Director’s Assistant on Coca‑Cola commercial campaigns and collaborating with regional production teams and crews. Finding You marks her first professional narrative short film as writer/director, developed following extensive hands-on experience with production company Top Of The World (TOTW films) across commercial and independent productions.

Anup Sapkota - Producer

Anup Sapkota is a Nepali director and producer based in Kathmandu with over a decade of experience across commercials, branded content, and narrative filmmaking. He has directed major campaigns for international and regional brands including Coca‑Cola and Pepsi, working with large professional crews and developing a strong visual sensibility and disciplined storytelling approach. Alongside commercial work, he remains deeply committed to meaningful and socially driven storytelling, often exploring themes of identity, migration, and systemic injustice. Through his production company Top Of The World (TOTW Films), he continues to produce and develop projects that support Nepal’s growing film industry while collaborating with international filmmakers.

Ujjwal Joshi - DOP

Ujjwal Joshi is a Kathmandu-based Director of Photography with over a decade of experience crafting images for some of the most recognised brands in South Asia. His commercial portfolio spans Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, and Pepsi, bringing a distinctly cinematic eye to large-scale campaigns across Nepal and international markets including Bangladesh. Known for his ability to build mood through light and lens, his work moves fluidly between high-energy brand storytelling and intimate, character-driven narratives. Beyond advertising, Ujjwal is currently in post on multiple feature film projects, further cementing his position as one of Nepal's most versatile and sought-after cinematographers.

Kobid Bazra - Composer

Kobid is a Nepali musician, composer, and music producer whose work blends emotional depth with strong cultural sensitivity. Trained in ethnomusicology, he approaches music as a form of storytelling rooted in memory, place, and lived experience. His work spans independent music, film soundtracks, and full‑scale music production, and he has released several acclaimed original projects while collaborating with a wide range of Nepali artists. As a composer and sound designer for film, Kobid combines contemporary acoustic and electronic elements with traditional Nepali influences, creating soundscapes that feel both modern and timeless. Through his work with Bajra Creation Records, he brings both technical expertise and artistic vision, crafting music that is intimate, evocative, and closely connected to the emotional core of a story.

Help us bring this story to life!