Experiencing Interruptions?

Contraband

Flailing millennial, Ruby, endeavours to get her life together after an overdue gap year, but is hindered by a pesky, over-complicated abortion.

  • Anabel Barnston
    Director
    The Ditch (2019), Hangxiety (2021)
  • Anabel Barnston
    Writer
    The Ditch (2019), Hangxiety (2021)
  • Phoebe Campbell-Harris
    Producer
    Hangxiety (2021), Mars (2021), I Saw the Light (2021)
  • Gwyneth Keyworth
    Key Cast
    "Ruby "
    Misfits (2011), Game of Thrones (2015), Black Mirror (2017), Hidden (2018), Defending the Guilty (2019)
  • Elly Condron
    Key Cast
    "Cara"
    Wasp (2015), Years and Years (2019), I Hate Suzie (2020)
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 2, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    4,500 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, FS7
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Anabel Barnston

Director/Writer/Performer/ Forward slash lover. Anabel has appeared in TV comedies such as 'The Inbetweeners', BBC Three's 'Coming of Age', 'Watson and Oliver' and 'The New Worst Witch'.

She has since co-created and directed short film, The Ditch (2019) (official selection for London Short Film Festival) and wrote and directed short film Hangxiety (2021) which has recently been completed.

Anabel has recently finished her Masters in Film Direction at London's prestigious Metfilm School this year.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Contraband story is a bit of a personal one but it's one I felt compelled to tell as it’s not a classic abortion narrative e.g., the moral dilemma, or the super simplified ‘in and out of the clinic, in your lunch break’ kind. There’s nothing wrong with those – but they are just two dimensions of a very multi-dimensional and nuanced experience. ​Every women's experience of abortion is a unique one, and I feel the Contraband story demonstrates this.

It was a real challenge balancing the comedy and drama of the story to make sure Ruby’s experience wasn’t trivialised. The absurd bureaucratic processes and uncomfortable conversations around the experience served as comedic relief, and on set, the cast improvisations got the whole crew cracking up on multiple occasions. I’m so proud of the fantastic cast, and the incredible onscreen chemistry between Gwyneth and Elly.

Contraband has clearly touched a lot of people and the story brought an incredibly talented team together. A big thanks to everyone who went above and beyond to create something special!