On a rare day off, a young couple's quiet tension simmers beneath the surface — until a minor mishap leaves them stranded, and cracks begin to show. What unfolds is intimate, raw, and painfully human.

Welcome to our Greenlit campaign for Allotment, a short film written and directed by award-nominated filmmaker Joshua King.

This is a story grounded in emotional realism — quiet tensions, unsaid truths, and the way love can both hold us and haunt us. Inspired by filmmakers like Mike Leigh, Andrew Haigh, and the stripped-back ethos of Dogme95 and mumblecore, Allotment is an intimate, character-first dramedy with light and shade, and moments of uncomfortable honesty.

Visually, we’re embracing longer, unbroken takes and close, handheld camerawork — placing the viewer in the emotional space between the characters rather than cutting away from it. Like The Bear or 45 Years, the camera observes rather than intrudes, allowing the silences, stumbles, and simmering tensions to unfold in real time.

We’re crowdfunding not just to help us raise the budget we need to bring this to life, but also to invite you into the process. Whether you’re a film lover, a supporter of emerging voices, or simply someone who believes in storytelling that reflects the messy beauty of real relationships — we’d love for you to join us.

If you can’t donate, please consider sharing our campaign with friends or on social media — it makes a huge difference. Every bit of support helps us get closer to making this film happen.

Photo credit: All of Us Strangers dir. by Andrew Haigh

 Synopsis:

James and Emma find themselves locked out of their car at an allotment on a rare day off. What starts as an inconvenience quickly becomes a pressure cooker.

Long-buried tensions come to the surface in the space of a single afternoon. Words are said. Silences linger. Both are forced to confront the quiet ways their relationship has started to fray.

Allotment is a sharply intimate drama about the things we don’t say, the things we hold onto, and the stories we tell ourselves to make love feel like it’s still working.

Photo credit: Red Rocket dir. by Sean Baker

Director statement:

Allotment is a personal, intimate exploration of relationships — the unspoken tension, the moments of self-reflection, and the cracks that form when things start to fall apart. Told through James' recollection of events, the film draws the audience into an emotional journey where we confront the complexity of how we perceive who we are in relationships — the good, the bad, and the messy in between.

It's a film about those moments of reckoning, where we realise that our perception of ourselves and our actions in the heat of a relationship breakdown is often at odds with how our partner sees us. In Allotment, I want to capture that fragile space where love and frustration coalesce.

This story doesn't proffer easy answers. It's a human story. It's about two people — both right and wrong — trying to navigate the complexities of their emotions, shared history, and whether they have a future. It's a film about how we sometimes patch over cracks, thinking we've fixed them when we've only delayed the break.

Production Timeline:

The cast and crew for Allotment are fully confirmed, and we’ve identified a location that perfectly aligns with the film’s tone and visual language.

The shoot is scheduled for four days in May 2025, with a tight, efficient schedule shaped around the story’s intimate, character-driven nature. With an experienced team, we’re well-positioned to capture the film carefully and precisely.

Post-production—including editing, colour grading, and sound design—will take place through June and early July. The film is on track for completion by mid-July 2025 and will be ready for submission to festivals later this year and into 2026.

Where the money goes:

We are aiming to raise £12k to take us through the production and post-production of Allotment. This funding will allow us to shoot the film over four days, with a dedicated team working at nominal equity rates.

In addition to this crowdfunding campaign, we have applied to various grants and competitions, including Shore Scripts and others, to secure additional financing for post-production and festival entries. While these efforts are ongoing, this campaign will ensure that we can shoot the film and cover essential production costs.

If we exceed our target, we will be able to complete the post-production without reliance on other funding sources, allowing us to focus on making Allotment the best film it can be, and ensure that we can apply to festivals and execute our marketing strategy without compromise.

When is the premiere?

We aim to have post-production completed by the end of summer 2025. After that, we will be working closely with experts within the festival circuit to strategically position Allotment for maximum impact. Our goal is to premiere at top-tier festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, BFI, Raindance, and others, aiming for the 2026 festival season.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Writer/Director - Joshua King

Joshua King is an award-nominated director and producer with over a decade of experience across TV, film, and theatre. He began his creative journey training as an actor at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, later working as a runner for an ITN cameraman — experiences that gave him a deep understanding of both performance and production from the ground up.

Joshua is the co-founder and Artistic Director of 2nd Take Productions, where he has directed a range of short films that centre character, emotional nuance, and the often unspoken complexities of everyday life. His producing credits include When the West is Done With You, and his commitment to authentic, grounded storytelling continues to shape the stories he tells today.

Director of Photography - Gabriele Damanskyte

Gabriele Damanskyte is a cinematographer whose passion for visual storytelling began with shooting photos and videos on a small digital phone. This early curiosity led her to discover film photography, eventually evolving into a career capturing short films, documentaries, and live events using digital cine cameras.

As a Director of Photography, Gabriele is committed to enhancing each story through thoughtful use of light, framing, and movement. Her approach focuses on closely following characters, framing their emotions, thoughts, and actions in a way that invites a deep connection with the audience.

Production Designer - Cassandra Sim

Cassandra Sim is a London-based Singaporean art director with a background in spatial and production design, working across both film and branded environments. She brings a thoughtful, story-first approach to every project, ensuring the world of each film feels lived-in, expressive, and visually rich.

Cassandra is also the co-founder of Telescope Studios, where she has produced commercial campaigns, music videos, and short films that have gained recognition across the Asia Pacific region. She was part of the 32nd Singapore International Film Festival’s Youth Jury & Critics Programme, and continues to champion bold, emotionally honest visual storytelling in all her work.

Sound Recordist/Composer - Steven Villacis

Steven is a composer and sound recordist based in the UK and Europe, specialising in commercials and documentaries.

His portfolio as a sound recordist includes notable projects such as the BAFTA-nominated documentary Always, Asifa (2022, available on Apple TV), PAPA (2023, available on Netflix), and high-profile commercial collaborations with brands like Apple and Adidas for Copa America.

As a composer, Steven has worked with acclaimed brands such as Veilance (Arc'teryx) on their commercial campaigns, and is currently contributing to a number of feature films in post-production.

Passionate about storytelling through sound, Steven brings both technical precision and creative energy to every project he joins.

Cast:

Jasmine Raymond - Emma:

Jasmine Raymond is a talented British actress born and raised in London. After filming her first feature, Pinky, while still training at ArtsEd, Jasmine quickly made her mark with a standout role in the hit comedy Ted Lasso, which premiered in 2020. Her compelling performance in The Secret Life of Ophelia (Greenwich Theatre, 2020) also garnered praise from The Times. With a strong background in both stage and screen, Jasmine brings authenticity, depth, and charisma to every role she takes on.

Liam Harkins - James:

Liam Harkins is a British actor known for his compelling performances in both theatre and film. With a strong foundation in dramatic arts, Liam brings depth and authenticity to his roles, making him a valuable addition to the cast of Allotment. He has an innate understanding of the lightness and shade required for the role of James, skilfully bringing out the warmth and vulnerability of the character.

Join Us

Allotment is a film about perception, connection, and the quiet unravelling of a relationship — told with honesty, intimacy, and care. We'd love to have you involved if you're drawn to emotionally grounded stories with real stakes and raw performances.

Whether you can support us financially, share the campaign with others, or follow the journey — every bit of help gets us closer to bringing this story to life.

Thank you for reading. Let's make something quietly powerful together.