Experiencing Interruptions?

Dear Heart

An intimate portrait of an ordinary 63-year-old woman who knows that being outdoors every day whatever the weather is the cure for succumbing to life’s ‘stop cards’.

  • Emily Barnard
    Director
    The Thing
  • Sara Barnes
    Writer
    The Crummock Selkie
  • Emily Barnard
    Producer
    The Thing
  • Sara Barnes
    Key Cast
    "The Crummock Selkie"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 26, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    0 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Emily Barnard

Emily Barnard, Photographer, filmmaker and creative explorer.
For over a decade, I’ve been chasing stories through a lens, from a career starting in wedding and events to commercial campaigns and adventurous passion projects.

My work is rooted in curiosity and a love of connection whether that’s between people, with nature, or through storytelling. I help brands and individuals tell their stories in ways that feel honest, thoughtful, and beautiful.

Outside of client work, you’ll often find me with a camera in hand, experimenting with film photography, documenting travel, or crafting personal projects that challenge my creativity. This space brings it all together; my professional work, personal passion projects, and a chance to share my shots and projects that mean something to me.

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Director Statement

Dear Heart is, to me, a film about love, nature, and adversity. In getting to know Sara, I was inspired by her resilience, her struggles, and the environment she inhabits.
Adventure is essential to life. Without it, we lose our spark and our vision. It is what gives us excitement and zest—and Sara’s story embodies this perfectly. For her, nature is a tonic, a source of strength and healing, and being able to capture that power through this film has been an incredible experience.
I have always been inspired by the relationship between people and the natural world. Meeting Sara, fittingly, during a wild swim, felt serendipitous—almost as if this project had been waiting for me. I often think of creative concepts as spiritual beings, and encountering Sara in that moment felt far from a coincidence.
I believe Dear Heart offers something to everyone. Adventure takes many forms, and this film is a reminder that it is accessible to us all—whether through love, nature, or the courage to face adversity.