Evade

During a routine surveillance mission, a battle-hardened fighter pilot finds himself under sudden enemy fire. As he executes evasive maneuvers with lethal precision, something far more dangerous infiltrates his mind—visions of a past he thought he had left behind. Faced with haunted memories and a truth he can no longer outrun, he must decide whether to break free or remain shackled to the sins of his forefathers.

  • David J. Ferreira
    Director
    None
  • David J. Ferreira
    Writer
    None
  • David J. Ferreira
    Producer
    Beautifully Broken, The Roar
  • Grant Ross
    Key Cast
    "Pilot"
    Troy: Fall of a City, The Kissing Booth 2, Black Beauty
  • Kayla Smith
    Key Cast
    "Jo-Anne"
    Redeeming Love
  • Christoff Snyman
    Key Cast
    "Jonas"
  • Riaan Ellis
    Key Cast
    "Jimmy"
  • Eloff Snyman
    Key Cast
    "Andrew"
    Liewe Kersfeesvader
  • Brendt Wayne
    Key Cast
    "James"
  • Michaela O'Toole
    Key Cast
    "Sarah"
  • Tristan Ferreira
    Key Cast
    "Young Jimmy"
  • Marlisa Doubell
    Key Cast
    "Glenda"
    MIA&I, American Monster,Fried Barry
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Character Driven, War Drama, Action, Faith
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 20, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    South Africa
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    Afrikaans, English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Raw
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - David J. Ferreira

David J. Ferreira is a producer, VFX Compositor, and Post-Production Specialist with 14 years of experience in feature films, high-end TV, and commercials. He’s contributed to projects like The Chosen, Lost in Space, Mowgli, Outlander, and the Oscar-nominated Revolting Rhymes.

Known for his expertise in Nuke compositing and Houdini simulations, David also brings a strong background in producing. He has led multiple short films and feature projects, including the award-winning Evade. His post-production work spans major studios, agencies, and brands such as Warner Bros., Netflix, Sony, BBC, Starz, and the Disney Channel.

Evade is his directorial debut.

IMDB Profile: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm8691008/

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

At its core, Evade is a film about the weight of the past—the unseen forces that shape us, the wounds we inherit, and the choice to either repeat history or break free from it. It is a deeply personal story, one that I hope will spark meaningful conversations about the cycles we carry and the power of confronting them before it’s too late.

The inspiration for Evade came during a time when I felt unfulfilled despite achieving success in my career. Having worked on projects like The Chosen, Lost in Space, Mowgli, and Outlander, I had spent years bringing other people’s visions to life. But I found myself longing to create something that resonated on a deeper level—something that could challenge and inspire.

I set out to make a small, self-contained short film with a few trusted collaborators, but the project quickly evolved into something much bigger. What started as an intimate exploration of personal struggles became a large-scale production, complete with a cast and crew of over 50 people, high-end visual effects, and top-tier sound design. The scale may have grown, but the heart of the film remained the same: Evade is raw, unfiltered, and deeply human.

Through this film, I want audiences to step into the mind of a man who has spent his life running—only to find that the battle he truly needs to fight is within himself. It’s a story about reckoning with the past, confronting the pain we often suppress, and realizing that survival isn’t just about escaping danger—it’s about breaking free from the ghosts that haunt us.

I hope Evade engages audiences as much as it did those of us who made it. If it stirs reflection, if it challenges perspectives, if it inspires even one person to face what they’ve been avoiding—then it has done what I set out to achieve.