A short film about companionship and neurodiversity; paranoia and understanding; dignity and... murder

Logline

Cash-strapped artist Samantha, takes a job chauffeuring Liam, a sweet & socially unconventional gardener, around the city. When she discovers he’s being exploited by one of his clients, she gets into a dangerous fight to protect him - forming an unlikely partnership that’s as heartfelt as it is co-dependent.

Tone & Genre

Observational humour meets social realism creating a world that feels authentic and emotionally charged. Grounded yet character driven plot with offbeat humour and rising tension that creates a sense of unease. In the spirit of shows like Fleabag and Promising Young Woman, the film disarms with wit and charm then  pulls the rug out from under the audience.

Director's Statement

The Gardener began to take shape during the 2023 writers’ strikes, when I found myself - like many others - searching for work. In a Facebook group called Funemployed, I took a driving job. This experience stayed with me and while the film evolves into something darker and more heightened, it is rooted in a simple question: what happens when two people from opposing sides of society are forced into close proximity?

This question is deeply personal for me as my younger sister is autistic. She attends a social group for people with special needs, ranging in age from 18 to 70 and watching them interact is disarming in its honesty - they are at ease, surrounded by people who understand and accept them unconditionally. This often makes me wonder how they navigate a world that isn’t always as kind or accommodating.

Conversations around neurodiversity seem to be moving beyond awareness into understanding, yet authentic representation still lags behind. With The Gardener, I want to open a conversation about the vulnerability of people with special needs, particularly around abuse and exploitation. These are individuals who may not always advocate for themselves, which makes it all the more urgent that others do. This theme finds a complex emotional parallel in Samantha, whose own experience of having her creative work stolen informs the intensity of her reaction when she encounters the injustice.

The Gardener brings together my instinct for character-driven storytelling with a tone that balances humour and tension. At its core, the film is about connection, empathy, and the moments that define whether we choose to look away or step in. I wanted to make sure Samantha and Liam are fully realised, human characters where we can find moments of humour, awkwardness, and warmth in their time together. Their relationship becomes the emotional anchor of the story, grounding it even as the narrative takes a darker turn that feels shocking yet earned.

The Team

Morenike Besan - Director

Morenike Besan is a Writer/ Director from North west London; a 2nd generation Nigerian with a neurodiverse brain and a passion for complex characters and strong imagery. Morenike is committed to championing projects where she can shine a light on the authenticity and vulnerability of shared human experiences, by tapping into voices that are not often heard. Her short film Carry Me was selected for Barcelona Indie Festival and semi-finalist in Kino short film festival. 

Aric Avelino - Executive Producer

Aric Avelino is an award-winning screenwriter/director whose feature film directorial debut, "American Gun" was featured at SXSW and Toronto Film Festivals and was nominated for three Film Independent Spirit Awards including "Best Feature Film.” As a writer, Aric was selected as a fellow for the 2017 Sundance Institute TV Episodic Lab for his script "Hope, AR,” which was developed at Showtime with Lena Waithe producing.  In 2018, he was selected for the Warner Bros. Episodic Directing Workshop, before going on to direct episodes of NBC’s “Blindspot,” John Wells’ series “Animal Kingdom,” and AppleTV’s “Silo,” where he served as a writer for multiple seasons, and Executive Producer. Previously, Aric has written on “American Gods” for Starz, and directed the feature film “Behind the Movement” for TV One - a unique and fast-paced retelling of how Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat launched the history-making Montgomery Bus Boycott, which received two NAACP Image Award nominations.  He is currently developing projects for AppleTV including an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning author, Colson Whitehead’s “New York Times Notable Book of the Year,” “Harlem Shuffle.”

EJ Richards - Producer

EJ Richards is a UK-based Supervising Location Manager and producer working across film and high-end television. With credits including Silo, The Diplomat, Secret Invasion, and Wonder Woman 1984, EJ has spent over a decade delivering complex productions at scale. Originally trained as a filmmaker, and with a background in independent theatre and short film production, EJ is now developing and producing original screen projects focused on ambitious, character-driven storytelling. 

Jim Onyemenam - Co-Producer

Jim Onyemenam is a Producer/Director working across psychological thrillers, musical theatre, and emotionally driven genre storytelling. His work is defined by visually expressive filmmaking, psychologically complex characters, and an interest in intimacy, obsession, and fractured relationships. His work has screened internationally at festivals including Southampton International Film Festival, Hip Hop Film Festival, CinemAfrica, and the Romford Horror Film Festival. His short film Within These Walls received an Honourable Mention at the Vienna International Film Awards. Alongside filmmaking, his screenwriting has been recognised by the Academy Nicholl Fellowship, Austin Film Festival, and BBC Studios ScriptWorks.

Production Timeline

Budget Summary