Private Project

Just a Girl

A girl escapes from a secret government facility and tries to convince a hermit to help her get home.

  • Kieran Freemantle
    Director
    The Hit, Samantha
  • Kieran Freemantle
    Writer
    The Hit, Samantha
  • Yasmine Alice
    Producer
  • Lydia Fitzwilliams
    Key Cast
  • Olly Bassi
    Key Cast
    "Jack"
  • Patrick McKenzie
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Humphreys"
  • Nicholas Anscombe
    Key Cast
    "Sergeant Reynolds"
  • David Wayman
    Key Cast
    "Private Woods"
  • Tom Pidoux
    Key Cast
    "Alfie Pierce"
  • Raffaele Nocerino
    Director of Photography
  • Francesco Martinuzzi
    Head of Post-Production
  • Andrea M. Catinella
    Production Coordinator
  • Simone Micieli
    Composer
  • Jennifer Brough
    Script Supervisor
  • Bethany Smith
    Make-up Artist
  • Sonia Amini
    Art Director
  • Ciaran Cochlan
    Sound Recorder
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Sci-fi
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 13, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 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
  • Rome Women Film Festival
    Rome
    Italy
    Best Drama
  • Feel the Reel International Film Festival

    United Kingdom
    Best Actress
  • Stratford on Avon Film Festival
    Stratford Upon Avon
    United Kingdom
    November 4, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Golden Bridge Istanbul Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    Best Short Drama Film
Director Biography - Kieran Freemantle

Kieran is a filmmaker based in the South-West of England. He has directed two award-winning short films and both have explored themes of mental angst.

Kieran studied History at the University of the West of England. He is a self-taught writer and director. He developed his skills by reading books, collaborating with producers, and working on sets in the British indie film scene. His previous two short films have been selected by numerous festivals.

Kieran has written as a film and TV critic for various websites. Kieran owns and operates the entertainment website Pop Culture Maniacs, and runs a podcast with a fellow entertainment reporter.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

'Just a Girl' was a passion project for me because I am greatly interested in dystopian fiction. I have been drawn to the genre because it shows extreme forms of government and focuses on characters in these worlds. I wanted to put my own twist on the genre by showing a government needing to take drastic action during an unprecedented crisis and showing how different people react.

I am from a rural area and wanted to explore a dystopian world in a remote area. Even a place as remote as the Shetland Islands can't escape the overreach of an authoritarian government.

I wanted to make a character-driven story and how they deal with this extraordinary world. Katie's a girl who has been held captive since she was 12 and longs for freedom. She is the anti-Katniss since she's a normal girl who just wants to reunite with her family, not a symbol of resistance.

With Jack, I wanted to portray someone who wanted to escape from the world because of his grief and the enduring chaos. My experience with depression was used as an influence on Jack's need for isolation. His realistic and bleak outlook gets challenged by Katie who offers a glimmer of hope in this dark world.