Private Project

Fish Out of Water

**BEST SCREENPLAY SPECIAL MENTION - Unrestricted View Film Festival**
**BEST COLOUR SPECIAL MENTION - Unrestricted View Film Festival**
**OFFICIAL SELECTION - London Lift-Off **

In a harsh dystopian future, the government implements a radical programme to save the environment from total collapse - converting 90% of the population into fish.

Nip has always dreamed of doing her bit for the planet by becoming a fish. But when a bureaucratic error separates her from her fish family, how far will she go to correct it?

'Fish Out Of Water' is a dark comedy exploring loneliness, alienation, obsession, and the struggle between individual and collective desire, all against the backdrop of climate disaster.

  • Alexandra Boulton
    Director
  • Alexandra Boulton
    Writer
  • Alexandra Boulton
    Producer
  • Hollye Karina Swinehart
    Producer
  • Anna Bjerke
    Producer
  • Alexandra Boulton
    Key Cast
  • Gina Bramhill
    Key Cast
  • Luci Fish
    Key Cast
  • Joshua Wichard
    Key Cast
  • Charles Mori
    Director of Photography
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 16, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Alexandra Boulton

Alexandra is a British-American-Turkish actor and filmmaker and BAFTA Connect member, based in London.

Her first short film as a writer was selected at a number of festivals and premiered at London Film Week. She is currently working on a TV pilot, shortlisted for the BBC Writersoom.

She trained with young companies at the Almeida and Roundhouse theatres before attending Cambridge University for the comedy and theatre scene. She has a degree in Chinese Studies and speaks fluent Mandarin and French.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The seed for this script originated with the image of a young woman alone in a big house.

As a writer, I’m always drawn to exploring my biggest fears, and as I started forming a story around this image, two of those fears started to emerge - losing loved ones, and environmental disaster.

I never set out to write about climate change, but as it kept popping up in my imagined world as well as our real one, I started to wonder - if there was a fantasy solution to saving the environment, what would be the worst price to pay?

In the world of this film, it is loneliness - also something our modern society is struggling with as we grow more connected via technology, yet more distant.

As a Mandarin and French-speaking British-American-Turk who grew up in different countries, surrounded by different languages, loneliness and feeling out of place is definitely something I can relate to.

While the film tackles heavier themes, coming from a comedy background it was important for me to incorporate humour into the story. I think that's a reflection of reality - people reach for humour in the darkest of circumstances.

Shot in London with an all-female directing, writing and producing team, the film features Gina Bramhill (Avenue 5), and the voices of Joshua Wichard (Baldur's Gate III) and Luci Fish (Emmerdale).

I hope you enjoy watching this film as much as we enjoyed making it.