Experiencing Interruptions?

My Brother's Keeper

My Brother’s Keeper follows Abel, a troubled young man struggling with severe trauma and isolation. Living alone and battling his deteriorating mental health, Abel reunites with Evelyn, the only person who ever showed him kindness when they were teenagers growing up in a care home. As they reconnect in the present, fragments of their shared past reveal a childhood shaped by neglect, abuse, and the desperate need for family.

Their fragile reunion is interrupted by the arrival of Cain, a figure from Abel’s past whose presence triggers violent memories of the abusive father who once terrorised them. Overwhelmed by trauma and unable to separate past from present, Abel lashes out in a tragic confrontation that ends in devastating consequences.

In the aftermath, as the truth about family, identity, and belonging surfaces, the story explores how deep childhood wounds can shape a person’s reality and how the longing for connection can persist even in the darkest moments.

  • Teekay Adegbenro
    Director
    ECHO
  • Rik Jay
    Writer
  • Teekay Adegbenro
    Producer
  • Onthium Klarcks
    Producer
  • Charles Smith
    Key Cast
    "Abel "
  • Abigail Dawn
    Key Cast
    "Evelyn"
  • Tom Bond
    Key Cast
    "Cain"
  • Iain Collins
    Key Cast
    "Dad/Adam"
  • Tash Amory
    Key Cast
    "Mum/Eve"
  • Rendys Busevics
    Key Cast
    "Young Cain"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 13, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 50mm, 90mm,85mm
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Oxford Brookes University
Director Biography - Teekay Adegbenro

Teekay is a filmmaker and third-year film student at Oxford Brookes University. Drawing from his experience growing up in the care system, his work focuses on telling honest and emotionally powerful stories about trauma, identity, and belonging. His short film My Brother’s Keeper reflects his commitment to portraying the realities faced by young people in care.

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Director Statement

My Brother’s Keeper is a deeply personal film for me. I was a care leaver from the age of 16 until I was 25, and during that time I witnessed and experienced the emotional impact that the care system can have on young people who grow up without a stable family. This film was written from a place of truth, with the intention of giving a voice to experiences that are often misunderstood or overlooked.

Through this story, I wanted to explore how growing up without a sense of belonging can shape a person’s identity and mental health. Many young people in care carry trauma that follows them long after they leave the system. My Brother’s Keeper reflects that reality. As a director, my goal was not to soften or avoid these difficult truths but to present them honestly and respectfully.

The film was shot over two days, Saturday and Sunday, due to limited resources and budget. However, the lack of funding never stopped my commitment to telling this story authentically. Every creative decision was made with the intention of capturing the emotional reality of the characters and the world they inhabit.

I am currently entering my third year at Oxford Brookes University studying film, and this project represents not only a creative milestone for me but also a personal one. Making this film allowed me to transform lived experience into storytelling, and my hope is that audiences will come away with a deeper understanding of the emotional challenges faced by many young people who grow up in the care system.

Ultimately, My Brother’s Keeper is about the human need for family and belonging and what can happen when those things are missing.