Traces of Who We Are is an intimate, 15-minute coming-of-age drama that follows Theo, a withdrawn theatre assistant living in post-lockdown London. Caught between vivid daydreams and crippling creative paralysis, Theo’s quiet routine develops as new relationships expose his deepest fears and small, hard-won sparks of hope.

Theo’s isolation, dread about the future, and depressive spirals grow directly out of those accounts and are consistent with longitudinal studies that trace persistent mental-health symptoms in UK student populations after months of social restriction. To keep the portrayal honest and avoid the clichés that often plague screen depictions of mental illness, we matched personal stories with research on major depressive disorder, environmental stressors and cultural pressures that shape behaviour. Every supporting character is likewise drawn from real people in the director’s life, so the film stays anchored in lived experience rather than invention.

“Traces of Who We Are” is inspired by real events and people from the Director’s past. It is rooted in first-hand testimonies of the Director’s life and other international students who moved to the UK during the COVID-19 lockdowns, an experience that left 70 % plus of them reporting moderate-to-severe loneliness and a sharp rise in anxiety and depression.

This film is for anyone who’s ever felt stuck. Whether you’re juggling life’s demands, questioning your next step, or standing by a friend in need, this film holds space for you.  “Traces of Who We Are” offers a safe mirror: Theo’s vivid daydreams and quiet struggles will connect with anyone who has faced creative blocks or moments of doubt. By sharing his story, we hope to spark honest conversations about mental health and remind viewers that small victories can lead to real change. We’re reaching out to mental-health advocates, supportive families and friends, and indie-film enthusiasts who value honest storytelling and know that genuine storytelling can break down stigma and spark hope. Every donation, big or small, brings Theo’s journey one step closer to reality. Together, we can turn empathy into action and ensure Theo’s journey reaches those who need to hear it most.

Theo

In his mid-to-late 20s, Theo is a quiet, introspective man caught between creative ambition and emotional disconnection. Working backstage at a theatre while chasing the elusive dream of becoming a writer, he struggles with self-doubt, social isolation, and the fear of stagnation. Sensitive, observant, and quietly yearning for connection, Theo’s inner world often blurs with reality, especially through moments of art and memory. 

We see a variety of characters, including his group of friends, as well as Bella, who represents a new romance and one of the catalysts of hope.

Will Theo embrace this new change or fall back to his old situation

Bella

Bella left her small village for the city just before lockdown and spent months mostly alone, which made her observant and cautious in crowds. She speaks little but with clear, steady confidence and notices small details others miss. Meeting Theo, she reaches out despite her own nerves and becomes the first person to make him feel genuinely seen. Her quiet support shows how simple kindness can jump-start his return to life.

Layla

Layla is self-assured, emotionally distant, and carries a subtle sense of disillusionment. She shares an ambiguous relationship with Theo, intimate yet detached. Leyla represents both comfort and emotional inaccessibility in Theo’s life. Her cool demeanour, paired with her need for space, suggests someone protecting herself from deeper vulnerability.

Budget Break-down

Director

Kostis Katsimis is a London-based filmmaker finishing his second year of BA Film Practice at UAL, after earlier studies in architecture (Manchester) and film (Edinburgh Napier). He directed shorts, shot others as Cinematographer, and served as 1st/2nd Assistant Director on both features and short film productions. The new short that he's written, Traces of Who We Are, draws on that experience to tell a visually rich story about mental health and self-acceptance. With your help, we can take it from script to screen and share it with people, festivals and communities that need to see it.

Director of Photography 

Nikhil Ranade is a UK-based cinematographer with a strong background in both music videos and narrative film. Over the years, he has worked as Director of Photography on more than 40 music videos, covering a wide range of styles and genres. His approach balances creative expression with a solid understanding of light and composition. 
His experience also includes four feature films, one Marathi-language theatrical release and three English-language projects currently in post-production. He’s confident working across a range of camera systems, including Sony Venice, Arri, and Red.

Producer

Mary Preda is a London-based filmmaker with a focus on producing and camera department work. Her creative journey began at age 16 with a background in theatre performance, which laid the foundation for her unique approach to visual storytelling. She went on to study BA Film Practice at UAL, where she deepened her understanding of narrative and cinematic language. Since then, Mary has contributed to a diverse range of projects, including short films, episodic series, commercial advertisements, and fashion films. Her work is distinguished by a collaborative spirit and a commitment to emotional authenticity.

Production Designer 

Mara Croitoru has a BA in Architecture and is now doing an MA in Design for Performance at RWCMD, combining her love for art, background in design, and passion for performance. In the past, she has worked with the University of Manchester Theatre Society and, as part of her MA, has just finished her first professional production: Children of the West (Dir. Zoë Templeman-Young), which was staged in Cardiff and is now in London. Mara enjoys the practical side of theatre design, especially detailed model making, and is drawn to creating thoughtful designs for work that explores challenging themes.

Gaffer

Nathan Kiremidjian is a London-based cinematographer of Cypriot heritage. He graduated as a Director of Photography from Central Film School in 2024 and has been working in the camera and lighting departments for the past three years across a range of narrative and commercial projects. Nathan is passionate about visual storytelling and is excited to collaborate with Nikhil to bring Kostis Malliaropoulos's creative vision to life on Traces of Who We Are.