Unbreaking

ABOUT THIS FESTIVAL SCREENER (SCR): Unbreaking was re-edited and fully remastered in July 2025. In this version you will experience an entirely new sound design from legendary sound designer, Dave Nelson, at Outpost Studios in San Francisco. There is also now a "crazy credits" scene of the cast and crew saying "that's a wrap" at the close of the credits. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

* Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (2K Flat)
* Frame Rate: 24 fps (DCP) / 24 fps (ProRes 422 HQ)
* Audio: 5.1 Surround Sound — [Also available: Stereo mix, Internet Stereo Mix]
* Formats: DCP, H.264, Apple ProRes
* Total Run Time: 9:16

TAGLINE: Some bonds are unbreakable.

LOGLINE: An otherworldly child finds healing and a new best friend through the Japanese art of Kintsugi.

GENRE: Quirky Drama, Slice of Life, LGBTQ+

SYNOPSIS: After witnessing the tragic death of their father, 10-year-old Ollie Holmes, a non-binary neurodivergent child, experiences an Autistic shutdown, withdrawing into an interior world.

Ollie deploys sensory armor—ski goggles, mittens, a tutu—shielding themself from a world that no longer feels safe. Their mother, Siobhan, desperate to help them heal, turns to a therapist who introduces them to Jeremy, a patient and kind ceramicist whose work in the Japanese art of Kintsugi—repairing broken pottery with gold—offers a quiet but powerful path toward healing.

As Ollie begins working with Jeremy, the broken pieces of their grief and trauma slowly start to mend. What begins as silent observation transforms into connection, and Ollie’s first spoken words in months mark a turning point in both their recovery and the relationship with their mother.

At its heart, Unbreaking is the story of a mother's love for her child—an unbreakable bond—and a tender and visually rich short film about trauma, resilience, and the transformative power of art to reconnect us—not just with others, but with ourselves.