Experiencing Interruptions?

Frayed

Relentless ambition drives an obsessive young actress to the brink, under the influence of a brilliant yet controversial director

  • Ben Silver
    Director
  • Nadine Iskandar
    Director
  • Ben Silver
    Writer
    Sherlock's Shadow (post-production)
  • Nadine Iskandar
    Writer
  • Ben Silver
    Producer
    Sherlock's Shadow (post-production), To Catch A Siren (in production)
  • Nadine Iskandar
    Producer
  • David Mullenger
    Producer
    RED, To Catch A Siren (in production), Sherlock's Shadow (post-production)
  • Jasmine Clark
    Producer
    Wonder Woman 1984, Barbie
  • Alina Allison
    Key Cast
    "Jane"
    Salvable, Purgatory, Semolina Pilchard
  • Rachel Tucker
    Key Cast
    "Gianna"
    Wicked, Call the Midwife, Hadestown, Informer, Hope Street
  • Shervin Alenabi
    Key Cast
    "Rory"
    Gangs of London, Tehran, The Persian Version, Kabul
  • Kevin McNally
    Key Cast
    "George"
    Pirates of the Caribbean, The Crown, Valkyrie
  • Iona Bell
    Key Cast
    "Young Jane"
    Fing!
  • Che Francis
    Key Cast
    "Blake"
    KAOS, Never Let Me Go
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    psychological thriller, horror
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 14, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Kino London Short Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    August 22, 2025
    UK Premiere
    Official Selection
  • International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF)
    Pula
    Croatia
    October 3, 2025
    Croatian Premier
    Official Selection
  • European Short Awards

    October 25, 2025
    Official Selection: Nominee, European Short
  • Venezia Shorts Italy

    Semi-finalist
  • Mirada Corta

    Mexico
    South American premier
    Official Selection
  • Cinema Scares Film Festival

    Official Selection
  • First-Time Filmmaker Volume 11
  • The First Cut Horror Film Festival
  • New York Lift-Off Film Festival
  • Cannes International Film Week
  • Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival
  • Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival
  • Dark Nights Film Fest
  • Amsterdam Lift-Off Film Fest
  • The North Film Festival
Director Biography - Ben Silver, Nadine Iskandar

Nadine is an Arab-American writer/director and Fulbright scholar whose work explores generational trauma, social injustice, and the depths of the psyche. With a background in politics and foreign policy, she specialized in countering extremism, disinformation, and far-right discourse, holding roles at the UN, the Council on Foreign Relations, UK Parliament, and US Congress. Now, she channels that incisive perspective into filmmaking, probing the unconscious, the masks we wear, and the existential tensions that define human experience.

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Director Statement

Frayed is a visceral, disturbing examination of the price of ambition and the sacrifices we make in pursuit of art. During pre-production, we were struck by how much the story resonated with cast and crew and other creatives, who felt personally connected to the story of a young actor trying to navigate the dangers of a complex industry. We wanted Frayed to transcend as much as possible, pushing the boundaries of the narrative and the short form, with a strong focus on visual storytelling and a high production value in order to mirror the themes of the film. We hope you enjoy it.