INERTIA

Short Film | 2021 | 18 min 13 sec

Genre: Drama

Status: Festival Circuit

Writer, Director: Mat Johns
Producer: Chris Lane
Executive Producer: Jessica Loveland

Cast: Joanne Mitchell, Payal Mistry

Synopsis

Rabia and Maddie, a pupil and teacher, form a friendship under the unlikeliest of circumstances.

Additional Information

Told from a young person's point of view, the film is a character piece that deals with themes of identity, loss and faith in an intimate way.

The film won best drama at the Out On Film festival in the US – making it eligible for the 2022 Academy Awards. UK audiences can currently watch the film on All 4.

Funded by BFI NETWORK with additional support from Kyoraku Pictures and Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival.

Megan Powell marks the slate.

Payal Mistry and Kelsey Openshaw chat between takes.

Jenni Suitiala rehearses a tracking shot.

Joanne Mitchell commands the attention of the class.

Adam Shatwell makes adjustments to Liam Scholes' mic.

Mat Johns and Payal Mistry review the last take.

Joanne Mitchell, Payal Mistry and Mat Johns discuss the next scene.

Jenni Suitiala towers over proceedings on a Ladder Pod.

Kian Altmann makes adjustments to the lighting as Clair Nuttall and Noah Chebouli stand in for the talent.

Adam Shatwell, Andy Perch and Martyn Ellis on location.

Jenni Suitiala frames the shot whilst the cast and director rehearse.

Mat Johns watches a scene unfold on the director's monitor.

LEAPLING

Awards

Selected Screenings

Rhode Island International Film Festival (USA, 2021) * **

BronzeLens Film Festival (USA, 2021) **

Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (India, 2021) **

Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival (Japan, 2021)

Bolton International Film Festival (UK, 2021) *

Out On Film (USA, 2021) **

Tasveer South Asian Film Festival (USA, 2021)

Iris Prize (UK, 2021) *

Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (USA, 2021) **

ImageOut Rochester LGBT Film Festival (USA, 2021)

BENT LGBTQ+ Film Festival (USA, 2021)

Reel Affirmations (USA, 2021)

Desperado LGBTQ Film Festival (USA, 2021)

Leeds International Film Festival (UK, 2021) * **

Image+Nation (Canada, 2021)

Gully International Film Festival (India, 2021)

British Shorts Film Festival (Germany, 2022)

Reelout Queer Film Festival (Canada, 2022)

Through Women's Eyes International Film Festival (USA, 2022)

Roze Filmdagen (Netherlands, 2022)

Brightlight Film Festival (USA, 2022)

AVFest (USA, 2022)

Space Faring Civilisation Film Festival (Australia, 2022)

Bengal International Short Film Festival (India, 2022)

ASF Pune (India 2022)

KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (India, 2022)

Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival (USA, 2022)

Oakville Film Festival (Canada, 2022)

Cordillera International Film Festival (USA, 2022)

Falvaterra Film Festival (Italy, 2022)

OutSouth Film Festival (USA, 2022)

Festival Internacional de Cine LGBT+ OutfestPerú (Peru, 2022)

The Women’s Film Festival (USA, 2022)

Mexico International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Mexico, 2022)

Reeling Film Festival (USA, 2022)

Sardinia Queer Short Film Festival (Italy, 2022)

PERLEN - Queer Film Festival Hannover (Germany, 2022)

*BAFTA Qualifying **OSCAR Qualifying

Out On Film (USA, 2021) - Best Drama Short **

Gully International Film Festival (India, 2021) - Best Foreign Short

Through Women's Eyes International Film Festival (USA, 2022) - Best Narrative Short

Sardinia Queer Short Film Festival (Italy, 2022) - Audience Award