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This project successfully funded on 12th April 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Copium - Raindance Short Film
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim
Your contribution will directly support actors and crew as well as production design, locations, transport and post-production costs.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
"My name is Lucas, and I’m a student filmmaker currently developing a short psychological drama titled 'Copium' as part of my final year undergraduate course at the Raindance Film School.
The film explores themes of digital addiction, identity fragmentation, and the coping mechanisms young people develop in response to isolation, social pressure, and online culture. At a time when conversations around youth mental health and addiction are more urgent than ever, the film aims to contribute to that dialogue through story rather than statistics by humanising the internal struggle behind escapism, denial, and self-sabotage. By framing these issues within a psychological narrative, the project seeks to raise awareness while encouraging reflection and discussion.
As this is a non-commercial student production with no distribution revenue attached, our budget is extremely limited. I am asking for the help of supporters who believe in emerging talent and in bold, culturally relevant storytelling. Every contribution will go directly toward production costs, including locations, art direction, sound design, transport, catering, and post-production.
It is an intimate but ambitious project, designed to resonate with contemporary audiences while maintaining a strong cinematic identity.
The film will be screened, alongside other graduating filmmakers, at the Student Showcase during the Raindance Film Festival, which will be hosted at the Vue Piccadilly in June 2026.
Backing this project means becoming part of its journey from set to the screen. With your support, we can elevate the production value of the film and ensure it is presented at a professional standard, reflecting the dedication of everyone involved and worthy of a film festival premiere.
Thank you for taking the time to read and for considering being part of it!"
FILM INFORMATION >>[PITCHDECK]<<
Logline: In a society engineered to control attention, Kay must break his own feedback loop to save a Girl from being swallowed by the same system that numbs him.
Synopsis: Copium is a psychologically driven drama short exploring identity, personal fulfilment and addiction under the subtle mechanisms of control operating within contemporary online digital culture.
The story follows Kay, a young man trapped in stagnation and escapism, whose reality begins to fracture after a disturbing encounter with The Lost Girl. As he investigates her disappearance, Kay is drawn into a covert psychological battle that forces both of them to confront their own patterns of denial, distraction, and self-destruction.
Blending grounded social realism with surreal psychological tension, Copium examines the current digital landscape as a form of behavioural conditioning, reframing addictions as both a personal and systemic conflict. The narrative draws on Jungian individuation theory and Nietzschean philosophy to construct a layered character arc that culminates in a confrontation between illusion and integration.
Visually, the film aims for a restrained but atmospheric aesthetic. It will depict urban nightscapes, naturalistic performances, and symbolic visual motifs. The project is designed for festival circulation and a digital release, with potential for expansion into a feature-length or a series concept.
MAIN CAST
Christian Simioni as Kay
Erin Hughes as The Lost Girl
Jon Campbell as Jordan
Gelson Neto as Damien
Scott Lee Mullins as Kay's Father
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made