Francie

A grieving mother suffers from post-natal psychosis and struggles to be present for her family and the real world around her.

  • Zoë Ellender
    Director
  • Zoë Ellender
    Writer
  • Csilla Tornallyay
    Producer
  • Aimée Cassettari
    Key Cast
    "Francie"
    Last Night in Soho, The Sandman, Vera
  • Dave Hart
    Key Cast
    "Adam"
    The Responder
  • Mila Thursfield
    Key Cast
    "Lily"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 7 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 8, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 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:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Zoë Ellender

Zoë is a British filmmaker drawn to telling stories about women and opening discussions about uncomfortable subject matter.
Having learned the basics of filmmaking at film school, she has since expanded on this knowledge from her work as a Director's Assistant in the Film and HETV industry, assisting Directors such as Emmy Nominated Andrij Parekh and Loni Peristere.

In 2021, Zoë co-wrote and co-directed a short film called I Am Your Sister. Inspired by true events this film highlighted the struggles of a young woman who experiences the manipulative behaviour of extremist Catholic groups in Ireland. I Am Your Sister, was nominated for Best Director at the I AM Film Festival and Falcon International Film Festival as well as screening at London Rocks and the LA Women’s International Film Festival, amongst others.

Zoë's recent short film, Francie, hauntingly explores post-natal psychosis and the impact it can have on women and their families. Francie is currently in the festival circuit but she hopes that once released it will encourage a wider engagement with perinatal mental health.

Zoë is always keen to find new adventures and new stories in her life and hopes to bring this exploration into her filmmaking.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As a filmmaker, I’ve always wanted to tell stories with women at their core, exploring themes we've mostly been deprived of in cinema for generations.

"Francie" was inspired in part by the book and subsequent Netflix film “The Lost Daughter” which subverts the norms of motherhood we often see presented in media.
The story encouraged me to read up on postnatal depression, something I had heard of but never engaged with. After my deep dive I felt drawn to writing this uncomfortable but powerful story about a woman suffering from an extreme case of postnatal depression and psychosis.

The shot design was a core focus of both the script and final product. We intentionally kept close to our lead throughout the bulk of the film, inhabiting her space with her as she struggles through her psychosis and the real world around her is partially obscured. The cinematography overall intended to create an unnerving contrast to the subject matter with stark beauty and serenity.
Dialogue in the film is minimal and where present is mostly internal to our lead, manifesting as a broken memory. This bold approach, executed brilliantly by our sound designer and mixer team has left the film with a haunting quality that befits the tone.

In making "Francie" I was honoured to work with an incredible crew and post-production team. Their support, ideas and hard work made the production and post-production process incredibly collaborative and enjoyable.