‘Withering, Unframed’ (2026) is a student-led short film in collaboration with Norwich University of the Arts.

INTRODUCTION

Hi, my name is Sacha, and I am a student filmmaker at Norwich University of the Arts directing the short film ‘Withering Unframed ’. This film is a student production as part of our final year project.

‘Withering, Unframed ‘ is a Fantasy/Drama short film exploring grief, the choices made within grief, and how it affects those around us.

FUNDS

As part of the process, we are expected to fund this film ourselves. All funds raised will go directly to making everything possible.

This includes;

Every penny will go into this production to make it the best it can possibly be!

ABOUT THE FILM

Title: Withering, Unframed

Genre: Fantasy/Drama

Runtime: 7 - 10 minutes

Filming: March 2026

Release: May/June 2026

SYNOPSIS

’Withering, Unframed ‘ follows Percy, a young man who returns back to his childhood mansion after several years away. Not long after arriving, he is reunited with his sister, Alice. But, soon after, the truth about his past starts to unravel as he discovers things aren’t how he remembers them.

The story explores grief within identity. Something within the mansion isn’t quite right, leading to the darker truths. Percy tried to understand his place in this world, while Alice tried to keep everything together, ultimately leading to a choice no one should have to make.

WHY

The film’s main inspiration is ‘Clair Obsur: Expedition 33 ‘, and the exploration of false realities with the added element of grief. With those two cores blending together to have the ultimate decision where both choices are neither right or wrong. I wanted to explore grief and how it can take control over a person. This story allowed me to understand and with the power of grief, while simultaneously exploring games with adaptations to figure out how they work. While this is NOT an adaptation of the game, I wanted to figure out and understand the possibilities of the complexity of video games and if it’s possible for audiences to share the same responses if it was a film.

This project allows me to explore the complexity of production design, and is the creative jump I need within my journey as a filmmaker and designer. It allows me to explore period pieces, collaborate with like-minded students and share my passion and meaningful storytelling with the world.

THANK YOU

Thanks for taking the time to read this and support the project, it truly means the world to me. Any contribution, whether through donating or simply via sharing with friends and family, means everything to me and would truly make a difference.

As a personal ‘Thank You‘, all donators and contributors will have a place within the ‘Special Thanks To‘ section of the credits. Your contribution will make this project happen so deserves mentioning within the credits. You helped make it possible.

Your support continues the cycle of up-and-coming filmmakers, leading to our creative industry thriving!

~ Sacha, Writer/Director