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Logline

In the aftermath of a lifetime achievement award, a celebrated creative director encounters a restless young drama student who disrupts the rituals that define his identity. What begins as a subtle negotiation of control and performance evolves into an intimate confrontation with desire, loneliness, shame, and the limits of his control.

Synopsis

Edward Langley (66), a celebrated creative director, has just received a lifetime achievement award. He is successful, respected, articulate. His life is defined by precision—his routines exact, his environment controlled. There is nothing visibly broken and yet, everything is held in place—structured to contain loneliness, desire, and shame. Across a single day, Edward moves through this system without deviation. A brief encounter with a young man lingers, unresolved, carried back with him into the privacy of his room, where desire collapses into repetition and control.

Later, Kit (22), a young actor, arrives at Edward’s door. What begins as a measured interaction shifts as Kit resists, responds, and reframes the dynamic. Control moves between them—never fixed, continuously negotiated—blurring the lines of mentorship, roleplay, and desire. Their night together is intimate, charged, and unstable. For a brief moment, Edward exists outside the structure he has built—no longer directing, but participating. By morning, the system reasserts itself. Edward returns to his routines—his grooming, his posture, his control—reassembling the version of himself the world recognizes. Kit leaves, Edward Remains.

Meet the Filmmakers

Justin Campbell — Writer/Director/Producer
Justin Campbell is a New York–based photographer and emerging filmmaker known for a clean, modern visual language and an instinct for discovering and amplifying talent. His work has appeared in Vogue, V Magazine, and Esquire, and has built lasting creative relationships with actors including Austin Butler, Harris Dickinson, Eiza Gonzalez, and Miles Teller at formative moments in their careers. He supports The Fashion Trust and I AM A VOTER, aligning his work with culture, influence, and civic engagement. Rituals marks his narrative directorial debut..

Charles Edwards — Cast
Charles Edwards brings extraordinary gravitas, restraint, and emotional precision to the role of Edward Langley. A two-time SAG Award winner and Olivier Award nominee, Edwards is internationally recognized for his work in The Crown, Downton Abbey, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. His distinguished stage career includes extensive work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Bobby Brazier — Cast
Bobby Brazier is best known for his breakout role as Freddie Slater in the long-running BBC drama EastEnders, where he quickly established himself as one of the show’s standout young performers. His acclaimed debut earned him the National Television Award for Rising Star in 2023, and he later won the National Film Award UK for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series for his performance in Curfew.

William Rexer — Cinematographer
William Rexer is an Acclaimed cinematographer and member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). His work includes The Testament of Ann Lee, The Crowded Room, Halston, Hunters, and Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold. His films have premiered at Cannes, Venice, Toronto, and the BFI London Film Festival, and his work has received Emmy and Camerimage nominations, with projects earning Golden Globe, Emmy, Critics Choice, Gotham, and Independent Spirit Award recognition.

Ellie Bamber — Producer
Ellie Bamber, is a British actress and producer with a career spanning film, television, and stage. Her screen work includes Nocturnal Animals, BBC’s Les Misérables, The Serpent, and Disney+’s Willow. On stage, she earned critical recognition for her performance at the Donmar Warehouse, receiving the Ian Charleson Award in 2017. As a producer, Bamber is expanding her creative work behind the camera, bringing a strong performance background and a sharp understanding of character-driven storytelling to the projects she supports.

Zoe Bamber — Producer
Zoe Bamber is a British film and television producer whose credits include the BAFTA- and BIFA-nominated debut feature County Lines (2019), starring Harris Dickinson, as well as Being Dead (2021) and There Will Come Soft Rains. Her work reflects a commitment to distinctive, character-driven storytelling and emerging cinematic voices.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact [email protected].