As the morning ferry unloads tourists, commuters, and wedding parties onto the cold Liverpool docks, the camera finds a solitary young man, hood up, hands in pockets. This is Liam.

He drifts past the Three Graces, snapping photos with quiet detachment, his gait heavy. Leaving the city centre behind, he wanders into a forgotten part of town and stops before a derelict house. His grip tightens on the barbed-wire fence until a voice calls out: “Liam?”

It is Ben.

The two old friends embrace, an awkward tension settling as they both glance at the house. To shake it off, Ben suggests a drink.

At the pub, amid empty glasses and childhood tales, Ben’s frustration simmers as Liam finally breaks his silence, revealing he left Liverpool fifteen years ago after his 10-year-old sister vanished. She was never found. No one truly healed. Moreover, now, Liam fears he is forgetting her.

Later, in the quiet of the Victoria Gallery, Ben shows Liam a painting of villagers beneath crumbling Roman ruins. “Ruins are not just decay,” he says. “They are signs that something brilliant once stood here.” That night, slightly drunk and warm with nostalgia, the two run through the streets pretending to be Spitfires, just like they did as kids, laughter echoing across the Liverpool night.

The next morning, Liam stands on the edge of the Mersey. The ferry carries him away from the skyline he knows, his face lighter, touched by something close to peace.

The Romantics was born out of a desire to tell a story that felt uniquely specific to Liverpool, not just in its setting, but in its spirit. However, this film is about more than the narrative on screen. It represents a commitment to what filmmaking can be when it is rooted in community, opportunity, and collaboration.

By pairing a rising local director with an established Irish writer and actor, this story becomes a vehicle for collaboration, cultural exchange, and regional storytelling. It’s the first step in a broader initiative to establish Liverpool not just as a backdrop for filmmaking, but as a source of original stories, skilled talent, and trusted crew. 

This film was made possible through Let’s Make Films CIC and our HOD/Trainee pairing scheme, a grassroots model that gave new, local crew members their first meaningful opportunities on a real film set.

Through that initiative, first-time filmmakers from Liverpool were paired with experienced Heads of Department across every department — camera, art, sound, production — allowing them to build practical skills in a supportive, low-pressure environment while contributing to a real, professional-grade short film.

This short isn’t just about making a film, it’s about proving that high-quality, emotionally rich cinema can be created outside traditional media hubs, using local talent, and benefiting local communities. Through “The Romantics,” we’re piloting a model where storytelling, industry access, and education come together, laying the foundation for more ambitious regional filmmaking to come.

We’ve shot the film! We’ve wrapped production! But we still need to bring it to life in post...

We are asking for £3,000 to support:

• Post-production (hiring editors for picture, colour, & sound)
   
• Music licensing fees and score completion
   
• Marketing, festival submission & distribution

This will enable us to complete the film to the high standard it deserves, get it seen by festival audiences, and premiere it on the big screen in Liverpool.

Every penny counts, and every donation makes a genuine difference.

If we raise more than our goal, 100% of the surplus will be donated back to LMF to support future Liverpool-based short films and training programmes, continuing our mission to provide accessible and inclusive pathways into the industry.

Once completed, The Romantics will premiere in November 2025 at Picturehouse @FACT as part of Let’s Make Films’ Sandbox Showcase, our end-of-year event spotlighting the most exciting new work from regional filmmakers. The screening will be attended by a whole 260-person audience, featuring Q&AS, mixers, and creative conversations. (Please check our perks for early access tickets 👀)

We will also be submitting the film to national and international festivals, to showcase Liverpool-based talent and our HOD/Trainee model on a broader stage.

Mícheál Óg Lane (Co-writer) as Liam Hayes

An Irish actor known for his roles in John Michael McDonagh’s The Guard and Calvary, as well as The Damned (dir. Thordur Palsson).

Shaun Fagan as Ben

Shaun is a Liverpool-based actor, best known for his roles in the TV series This City Is Ours, Boiling Point and The Responder.

Aymeric Nicolet – Co-Writer / Director

A Liverpool-based filmmaker of Japanese descent, Aymeric is an award-winning writer and director whose work spans both fiction and documentary genres. Known for his distinct visual language and emotional storytelling, Aymeric has been nominated at prestigious film festivals, including Camerimage, Bolton Film Festival, Aesthetica, Iris Prize, and Manchester Film Festival. His work often explores contemporary issues with intimacy and impact.

Joseph Tapp – Producer

Joe is a Liverpool-based producer and the founder of Pedestrian Films, a company dedicated to delivering bold, genre-based storytelling from development through to distribution. His previous work has screened at BAFTA and Oscar-qualifying festivals, and the BFI supported his most recent short film. Joe is currently part of the 2024 BFI Creative Producer Lab.

Ryan Whittingham – Producer

Ryan is the co-founder and director of Let’s Make Films CIC, a Liverpool-based organisation built to open doors for those traditionally shut out of the film industry. His journey began through grassroots experimentation, practical collaboration, and a drive to learn through real-world experience, often in environments where resources were limited but creativity was abundant.

Joe Hird – Producer

Joe is a producer and co-director of Let’s Make Films CIC. After studying film at Bournemouth University and gaining on-set experience as a runner on large-scale productions, he began producing shorts with a focus on community and regional impact. His credits include Community Strong (Channel 4) and Youthless, with a mission to build out a long-term infrastructure for filmmaking in the North West.

Carl Pollard - Director of Photography

Carl has 14 years experience as a Director of Photography and over 25 years experience in the Camera Department working in Feature Films, Television, Commercials and Music Videos. Recent credits include 'Silent Witness' (BBC), Grantchester (Kudos/ITV), Midas Man (Studio Pow!) 'All Creatures Great & Small' (Playground Entertainment).

Whether you are a film lover, a Liverpudlian, an industry ally, or someone who just believes in giving emerging voices a platform, we are asking you to back this story.

You are not just funding a film. You are backing a changing model. You are helping people who might never have set foot on a set before find their confidence, build careers, and tell stories that matter.

Let us show what Liverpool can do when it tells its own stories, its way.

Thank you always x