Adrian, a young international student in his early twenties from Hong Kong, shares a flat with his best friend, Felix, who is in his mid-twenties in Covid-era London. When Felix contracts the virus, Adrian steps up to become his caregiver, a role that is starkly different with his typically laid-back nature. Adrian's days become a cycle of domestic tasks: laundry, cleaning, and cooking for Felix. However, as Felix grows more reliant on Adrian's quiet acts of service, he becomes increasingly passive-aggressive and dismissive, unwilling to confront his hidden feelings. One night, as Felix's worsens to an high fever and cold sweats, Adrian's protective instincts kick in and take care of Felix with tenderness. In a half-conscious state, Felix reveals a longing that blurs the line of their relationship. In the days that follow, both men avoid acknowledging their true feelings and addressing their hurt, interacting with minimal conversation and pretending that the night's revelation never occurred.

It's almost a cliché within the gay community to fall in love with your best friend. Yet, it's a common experience for many. The impetus for creating this film stemmed, in part, from my own journey of navigating such a situation—developing feelings for someone very close, and finding myself in that ambiguous space between friendship and romance. This experience brought about a wave of self-consciousness and insecurity, a desire to be someone or something different, and at times, questioning my sanity and memories as to whether certain events had happened. This film isn't intended as a prescriptive guide for others facing similar circumstances, nor is it designed to instill confidence. Rather, it serves as a cathartic exploration, a means of conveying that these experiences, however isolating they may feel, are shared by many. It's about putting it out there, acknowledging that yes, this shit happens. From a filmmaking perspective, this project also represents my effort to create something concise, focused, and simple. I want to avoid contrived, deep meanings or metaphors, but instead, to craft something personal and genuinely authentic.

Adrian, 24, from Hong Kong, comes from a loving family and is somewhat childish, naive, and a little spoiled. He possesses a deep passion for fine art and adores painting. His talent led to his acceptance at the Royal Academy of Arts, prompting his move to the UK with his best friend, Felix. Adrian has had a crush on Felix long before his move to the UK, and finds himself constantly drawn to seek intimacy, despite the extreme likelihood of rejection. He easily gets jealous and upset whenever Felix expresses interest in other girls. In the events of this short film, Adrian has stepped up and taken on a caregiver role as Felix falls ill from COVID-19. Although Adrian is deeply hurt by Felix's dismissive behavior, he reluctantly accepts it as he wants to be close to Felix. However, sometimes Adrian cannot hold in his hurt and has temper tantrums. They avoid confronting their feelings and desires and resort to putting on a facade, pretending that they don’t.

At 26, Felix is a Hong Kong native living in London with his best friend, Adrian. He had worked tirelessly in Hong Kong to save enough money for them to immigrate to the UK, a move also motivated by differing values from his family. He is definitely attracted to women, suggesting he is, at most, bi-curious. Growing up, his parents were really manipulative, controlling and had extremely conservative values which ultimately informs Felix’s psyche. Even though Felix thinks that he is mentally different from his parents, he is still inevitably conditioned to feel shame and disgust when he deals with the feelings he has towards Adrian. Felix’s psyche is about having control of his own and on others because he has none growing up. In the events of this short film, Felix has caught COVID. He is touched by Adrian's caregiving but responds with passive-aggression, pushing Adrian away because he doesn't know how to interpret his feelings and is filled with shame and guilt.

The entirety of the film will unfold within a two-bedroom semi-detached house on the outskirts of London, the residence of Felix and Adrian. Although inhabited, the house remains somewhat bare, lacking the warmth and comfort of a true home. Personal objects, art, and decor are arranged temporarily, reflecting the unstable nature of the characters’ relationship.

At its heart, this film delves into self-hatred, delusion, internalized homophobia, and the isolating gay experience. Through Adrian and Felix's COVID-19 quarantine, the story explores how unspoken feelings and societal pressures can lead to emotional avoidance and strained relationships. As Adrian cares for Felix, their dynamic shifts, revealing a deeper struggle with vulnerability and the courage to confront their true selves. The film aims to examine how these internal conflicts manifest in their interactions, struggling between care and maintaining the normality of their relationship.

Set against the backdrop of Covid, the film's overall tone aims to be both sunny and subtly pale, capturing the closeness and distance that define the two men's lives in quarantine. The cinematography will reflect both rigidity and softness. We plan to shoot the film primarily with a single lens with subtle handheld movements. In a way, the camera mirrors their shifting relationship in these times. Lighting will be quite naturalistic with some hard lights. The goal is to create a delicate balance between subtlety and tension. There will almost always be something slightly "hazy" within the frame, just like the undefined nature of their relationship. We will shoot at a 1.66:1 aspect ratio, mimicking the feel of 16mm film, since such a medium has an inherent sense of nostalgia. COVID, though recent, already feels like a distant memory, and the characters' relationship started way back in their childhood. By using a slightly narrower frame, the characters are "forced" to be closer, much like what the pandemic did.

Henry, originally from Hong Kong, is a cinematographer who moved to London in 2023. His background includes training as an actor and working as a cameraman, providing him with a unique perspective behind and in front of the camera. While pursuing his undergraduate degree in Business in San Francisco, Henry dedicated three years to studying acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, where he was taught acting based on Strasberg’s method.
His passion for filmmaking deepened during an exchange program in Florence, Italy, where he created his first short film, "Of Red and Blue" (2019). The film delves into the complexities of sexuality in young adults, exploring themes of bisexual identity.
Back in Hong Kong, Henry worked as a videographer and cinematographer, creating engaging content and commercials for notable brands such as Calzedonia and Kipling, among others.
Currently, Henry is working on his graduation film, "Last Summer." He is passionate in crafting simple yet powerful narratives that shine a light on overlooked human interactions, relationships, and behaviors, capturing the essence of everyday life.

Qura Tul Aien Zahid is a Japanese-Pakistani transnational filmmaker based in the UK. She discovered her passion for filmmaking at the age of 13, and ever since, she has dedicated herself fully to pursuing a career in the industry. Her first role was working as a construction crew member on film and TV sets, giving her a unique foundation in the world of production. She worked at Toho Studios, one of the largest Studios in Japan, as a Production Designer Assistant and as an Assistant Producer at a start-up production company, GenZone Inc., that specialises in advertisement with brands such as Moet Chandon, Onitsuka Tiger, etc. Since then, she has produced numerous short films across a wide range of genres, with projects spanning Lahore, Berlin, and London. Qura believes in the power of film to shed light on important social issues — a belief deeply reflected in the upcoming short film Last Summer.

Wallace Minchong Li is a Chinese filmmaker based in the UK. He is keen on exploring the links between documentary and fiction, often attempting to create some sorts of experiences in his films, sometimes through people, sometimes through other things. He has been working internationally from UK to Western Sahara. His works include The Curtain Call (2022) which was nominated as Semi-Finalist at the 2023 Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival and where (2024) which was selected in the 2025 Visions du Réel VdR Film Market.

Alena Mucenieks is a writer-director with an MA in Directing for Filmmaking and TV Production and an MA in Criminal Law and Criminology. Her career includes hands-on experience as a Junior Detective and as a Criminal Expert in a Mental Health Centre, which informs her approach to creating compelling, psychologically nuanced storytelling. With formal training from an Art School, she has developed a strong foundation as an artist and painter. Skilled in directing not only adult actors but also child actors, bringing maturity to performances in complex genres. Directed works: 
Films: Holding Tight, short drama (2025), The Unseen, short horror (2025), Get Out Of My Closet, short dark comedy (2023), Hyper Active Dad, short drama/comedy (2024), You Can Do It, Mum With Dreams, documentary (2023), St Cuthbert’s Church, The Annunciation Church, An Amazing Jaqueline, documentary/charity projects (2023).

Anna Pohl is a London-based recent graduate from Wimbledon College of Arts, where she has completed a bachelors in Production Design.  
Throughout her studies she has been involved in a number of shorts films, taking on a variety of Art Department roles across London Film Schools and at the National Film and Television School. 
She has also been involved in student shorts and features in Germany, most recently completing a trainee position on a german crime Series ‘Erzgebirgekrimi.’

Kinga Katarzyna Reczkowska is a video editor and BA Film graduate from Middlesex University, London, specializing in editing and post-production. She is passionate about storytelling and loves bringing projects to life through editing, using tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Avid Media Composer. Alongside video editing, she has a strong interest in SFX makeup, creating prosthetics and special effects for film projects. She has independently edited award-winning short films, including Midknight Crisis, which was recognised at the RTS Student Awards and the Boston Independent Film Festival. Her work has also been showcased at Cine-Club 003 in Liverpool. With a background in cinematography, sound recording, and post-production, she is dedicated to delivering high-quality, impactful content that connects with audiences.

Although our film is smaller in scale than many short productions, the specific setting and the care we believe this story deserves have led us to set a budget that reflects the quality we’re committed to delivering.

If this project resonates with you and you’d like to help bring it to life, we’d be truly grateful for your support. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a meaningful difference.