Private Project

GRAVID

A woman discovers something repulsive growing inside her. She fears it's a manifestation of the secret she is keeping from her boyfriend: she doesn't want children. He does. And he's delighted because he thinks she is pregnant.

  • LAURA JAI SMITH
    Director
    GET ON BOARD, THE OUTBACK MOTEL, EVA, BIRTH DAY, JUST LIKE MY DAD.
  • LAURA JAI SMITH
    Writer
    GET ON BOARD, THE OUTBACK MOTEL, EVA, BIRTH DAY, JUST LIKE MY DAD
  • ELENA VALERI
    Producer
  • ELEANOR WYLD
    Key Cast
    "AMY"
    TRIGANOMETRY, LOVESICK, THIRTEEN
  • MAX RINEHART
    Key Cast
    "JOHANN"
    UNFORGOTTEN, INDUSTRY, MISS YOU ALREADY
  • JENNY RAY
    Production Designer
    BLUE IGUANA, THE LONELIEST BOY IN THE WORLD, SURGE
  • ESTEFANIA CARPIO
    Cinematographer
    BRUTAL, PHONETIME
  • JACKIE TEBOUL
    Cinematographer
    INSTRUCTIONS FOR A TEENAGE ARMAGEDDON, BORROWED TIME
  • RUTH PEASE
    Hair, Make Up and Prosthetics Designer
    CENSOR, ANT MAN AND WASP" QUANTUMANIA
  • BECKY GORE
    Costume Designer
    NOCTURNAL, KAT AND THE BAND
  • MIRA THU
    Editor
    SPRING ROLL DREAM, BLUE NOTE, ANOTHER ROUND
  • CARLOS SAN JUAN
    Sound Designer
    SPRING ROLL DREAM, THE END OF THE SKY
  • OLIVER WEGMÜLLER
    Composer
    STORIES OF YOU AND I, CATERPILLAR
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    HORROR, DRAMA, BODY HORROR, FEMALE NARRATIVE, SURREAL, RELATIONSHIP, BRITISH CULTURE, FEMALE CREATIVE, SUPERNATURAL, DARK FAIRYTALE, ABSURD, PSYCHOLOGICAL, BIZARRE, MENTAL HEALTH
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 11, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    ARRI ALEXA MINI
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • HOLLYSHORTS
    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
    United States
    August 20, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • AESTHETICA
    YORK
    United Kingdom
    November 12, 2023
    UK Premiere
    Official Selection
  • VANCOUVER HORROR SHOW
    VANCOUVER
    Canada
    October 22, 2023
    Canadian Premiere
    WINNER: BEST PRACTICAL EFFECTS
  • FINAL GIRLS BERLIN
    Berlin
    Germany
    February 11, 2024
    European Premiere
    Official Selection
  • LANDSHUT SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
    MUNICH
    Germany
    March 13, 2024
    Official Selection
  • ETREUM HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
    BOGATÁ
    Colombia
    June 14, 2024
    South American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • HORRORCONUK
    Sheffield
    United Kingdom
    May 12, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - LAURA JAI SMITH

Laura is an award winning film and television director whose work was described by INDIEWIRE as “an intriguing marriage of the psychological and the visceral”.

Her short films have been commissioned by the UK’s BFI and CHANNEL 4 and supported by the SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FILM CORPORATION. They screened worldwide at festivals and on television.

She has directed over thirty episodes of television drama for the BBC and CHANNEL 4.

She is developing feature films with financiers including the BFI and has been selected for the CANNES FILM FESTIVAL’s FRONTIERÈS programme and THE EUROPEAN GENRE FORUM.

She is a graduate of the UK’s NATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION SCHOOL. Prior to this she gained a 1st Class Degree in Fine Art and exhibited as an installation artist and photographer in England and Europe.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

GRAVID is inspired by my experience of being frightened to say that I didn’t want children because my partner did. At first neither of us wanted them but when our friends started having them I realised he had changed his mind. I feared saying I hadn’t in case our relationship ended. In hindsight I can see that he didn’t talk about his decision either. It was as if we both had secrets growing inside us.

In GRAVID the physical manifestation of Amy’s secret is inspired by a medical phenomena in which a tumour made of human body parts can exist benignly for decades before having to be removed. In this sense Amy’s conflict with her partner makes her face up to who she is, but the reality has been inside her for much longer. During the film she realises she is in danger, not from her relationship ending, but from hiding her true self.

I also wanted to portray a woman who doesn’t want children as often it’s male characters who have this dilemma.