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Gilded Cages

Period short focussing on female expression, emancipation and the occult, with an original score featuring bollywood influences. Set within the restraining dark architecture of an English Country House, dichotomised against a female Temple in the middle of a lake.

  • A A KHAN
    Director
    HIM
  • A A Khan
    Writer
  • Harriet Innes
    Producer
  • Lily-Rose Morris-Zumin
    Key Cast
    "The Countess"
  • Ryan Goodyear
    Key Cast
    "The Earl"
    The Crown, Napoleon
  • Harry Guibileo
    Key Cast
    "The Butler"
    Witness for the prosecution
  • Kitty Lowe
    Key Cast
    "Grace 1"
  • Sara Dehvari
    Key Cast
    "Grace 2"
  • Gail Lewis
    Key Cast
    "Grace 3"
  • Olivia Loval
    Editor
    National Theatre
  • Jude Jansen
    DOP
  • Frederick Waxman
    Score
  • Luana Martins
    Stylist
  • Cameron Christie
    Sound Designer
  • James Koroma
    Runner and Unit Driver
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 18, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    200 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    CinemaDNG 12 bit raw
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Cambridge University
Director Biography - A A KHAN

Born and raised in East London, A. A. Khan has always had an eye for the dance between spaces and stories- film and architecture.

After graduating from Cambridge University, with a degree in architecture, Khan embarked on a professional journey that merged his passion for design with his burgeoning interest in filmmaking. While working for The Duchess of Rutland and The Spitalfields Trust, he wrote his thesis on the symbiotic relationship between film and architecture, with a particular focus on the acclaimed series, "The Crown." This academic endeavor served as a springboard for Khan's foray into cinema, setting the stage for his distinctive directorial style characterised by a keen sense of spatial dynamics. He has also worked on a number of shorts as well as an ITV series.

In addition to film and television, Khan's creative pursuits extended to literature, firstly as a columnist and then penning a fantasy novel "The Faces," showcasing his versatility as a storyteller across different mediums. He is now working on a feature.

As a first-time writer-director, A. A. Khan is armed with a unique perspective shaped by his background in architecture and a boundless passion for storytelling. He continues to focus on stories that will captivate, shock and confuse audiences, with themes within English Cinema, Queer stories and Artistry.

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Director Statement

Gilded Cages should provoke a questioning of reality, offering escapism into a world that continues to fascinate: the British Aristocracy. Through a critical lens and an embrace of experimental narrative, the film focuses primarily on an original score and visuals.

My Indian heritage, steeped in Bollywood cinema, and my affinity for exclusively British period pieces heavily influenced Gilded Cages. Despite it's zero-budget, I had the opportunity to meticulously shape almost every aspect of the film, from the score to the color grading and editing.

Shot in just 8 hours and edited over 5 months, Gilded Cages owes much of its magic to the post-production process. I relied on the generosity of friends and colleagues, calling in favours from everyone I knew to bring this passion project to life.

As a queer, Muslim, London-based filmmaker deeply invested in the craft and technicalities of cinema, I gravitate towards stories that evoke emotions like confusion, expression, sadness, and an unflinching portrayal of reality. Gilded Cages challenges this thematic repertoire.