Inside a virtual world, a chance encounter with an old friend turns sinister when Sofie becomes the target of a digital assault. When she reports him, he weaponises deepfakes to destroy her credibility. As the system fails to protect her, Sofie must navigate a collapsing sense of self in a world where truth can be coded.

From the director, Lily Mellor:

The film is deeply grounded in very real experiences that my peers and I faced whilst growing up. Through the character of Sofie, CODEC interrogates how technological advancements have outpaced our legal, emotional, and ethical framework as a society. It's a story about invisibility, distortion and the systems that allow harm to young people without consequence.

Aimed at 14+ This will appeal to young adults and serves as a particularly vulnerable and useful tool for parents, carers and teachers to learn about how virtual chat spaces work and the possible dangers that occur in a seemingly safe space. CODEC is the kind of representation young women seek as a cathartic form of solidarity, validating their experience and showing them hope for change.

The cast will include Jay Kontzle, Laura Norton, Mark Jordan and screen debut from Yzabelle Walker. Stuart Jones from Rollem Productions as our managing producer is leading discussions surrounding the development the project either into a feature film or limited miniseries; This short film act as a proof of concept as well as a self-contained short so any sponsors support this project will get an option of investment/involvement in any follow up projects that achieve commission. With the success of shows like Adolescence and Black Mirror and features such as How to Have Sex, it is clear there is a desired yet under-served market for films that spotlight underrepresented or normalised societal pressures.

We also plan to partner with organisations such as NSPCC, Childnet, and Women’s Aid, with the potential to tour the film in schools alongside online-safety talks for Key Stage 4.

Thematically, it aligns with my broader practice, using cinematic tools to unpack trauma, identity, and stigma.  Stylistically, CODEC pushes the boundaries of form, blending gritty social realism with abstract visual metaphors: techniques I’ve developed over time through both academic study and practical projects.

We believe this is the kind of storytelling we need more of: honest and unfiltered without softening it with comedic relief. What we’re dealing with isn’t funny, it’s dark and twisted. This film is a call to action because we need to give a voice to change.