A love story. A boy. A bird. The last week of summer before their time flies away.

WINDERMERE is an exploration of the tenderness, human connection, and love that blossoms between Birdie and Jude during their first and final week together.

The unlikely pair first meet at a scruffy pub humming with dozy conversations and lively disputes, and soon their own musings fill the air. In the days that follow, Jude, a budding filmmaker, documents his time spent with Birdie on his camcorder as they ramble throughout the Cumbrian countryside, whilst Birdie, a poet, illustrates their days through her writing and depicts how it really feels to fall in love with a fleeting week in August. Like a fond memory, Windermere tells a story worth returning to, time and time again.

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In 2023 films, only 35% of the speaking roles were held by women. Of the top 100 highest-grossing films at the UK box office in 2023, just 13 were directed by women, with two additional female co-directors credit.

On the top 100 grossing films of 2019, women represented:

12% directors

20% writers

2% cinematographers

26% producers

19% executive producers

It’s well and truly time for a change.

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Now more than ever we need stories that reflect human connection. We need stories fuelled by truthful conversation and moments that beguile us. We need a story that makes us feel.

At our current budget, our cast and crew will be volunteers. But, our overarching goal of £15,000 will be put towards accommodation/food/transport for our incredible cast and crew, pre and post-production, festival funding, and bringing the beautiful story of WINDERMERE to life.

We are so grateful for any amount you can contribute to help this female-led feature film journey from script to screen. Please donate to create opportunities for women in film. Support a passionate cast and crew. Support a timeless story worth falling in love with. Support WINDERMERE.

Contact us and follow along in the journey of WINDERMERE:

Instagram: @windermere _film & @sylviegraceallen

TikTok: @windermere _film

Facebook: Windermere Film

Writer, Director, and Producer: Sylvie Allen

Assistant Director: Jayden Sedgewick

Cinematographer: Laura Mar

Script Editors: Elfie Drury, Bailey Bliss, & Willy Brown

Story Consultant: Lucy Pembroke

Separate callouts for the remaining crew and cast roles are coming soon. Shooting on location in August 2025.

Visual and filmic inspirations are attached below.