Always on
This project successfully funded on 16th November 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
find my phone
Kettering, North Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Aim
Help bring my short film to life - shedding light on men’s hidden mental health struggles through humour and heart.
What is find my phone?
find my phone is a 20 minute short film showcasing a new perspective on mental health. Many short films about mental health lean heavily into the bleak and isolating aspects of depression. But in reality, many people, and in particular men, who struggle with their mental health mask it behind humour and joy. I want to tell a story that reflects this quieter, more truthful nature of depression by exploring the contradictions of laughter and lightness as a cover for deeper struggles.
find my phone starts as a comedy between friends trying to find a phone they lost after a drunken night out, what first feels like a hangover-fueled scavenger hunt gradually unravels into something darker, revealing our protagonist's state of mind.
Why support this film?
The broad term “Mental Health” is so commonly used these days, to the point I don’t feel it holds the same weight anymore… Yet despite the destigmatisation of the term, suicide is the leading cause of death for males under 35. It is clear there is still a huge underlying problem with mental health conversations around men.
This is the issue I wanted to tackle, it’s not a film that dwells on the sadness of depression but rather a film that highlights the happy moments you can still have while being depressed. I hope that this film inspires some hope in those who feel lost and highlights to other men the quiet reality of mental health struggles.
Writer/ Directors Statement
When I was 20 years old I received a text from someone very dear to me saying they tried to commit suicide, they survived, but this memory has stayed with me forever. Over the years they learnt the tools to help them mentally and received the necessary help.
When I was 21 years old I went through my first depressive episode, for months I was depressed there was not 1 factor contributing to this but several. Depression for me was the strangest thing in my life . My friends helped me massively and falling in love with my passion for filmmaking also got me through it. Since I have educated myself on depression and anxiety and I now have tools at my disposal which I have learnt through trial and error which help me on a daily basis.
I was born in a small town called Rothwell in the East Midlands. I have travelled around the world and this town has a special place in my heart. Unfortunately every year I hear about someone who has tried to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge which enters the town. Hearing about the increase of people jumping, tying in my experience with depression and my friends story who tried to commit suicide ‘find my phone’ was born.
I don’t want to depress you but mental health issues are still a massive issue in the UK. Which is why I want to tackle this issue. find my phone, is not a film about depression but rather a film about hope. This hope is what drives the film and me to make it. I want people to watch this film whether they are depressed or not and feel inspired that they have the world in their hands, they can dictate their future and most importantly they don't have to go at it alone.
Your Contributions
With your support, we can create a powerful message that sparks change. "find my phone" is more than just a film; it's a catalyst for conversations across generations about mental health.
Your contributions will drive the production and distribution of this important campaign.
Production Costs:
- Location Fees
- Cast and Crew Payments
- Production Insurance
- Camera, Lighting and Sound Packages
- Catering Costs
- Transport Fees
- Accommodation
Post Production/ Distribution Costs:
- Editing, colour grade and sound design fees
- Festival Submission
The cheapest we can make this film is currently standing at £16,000 and that is pulling in favours from the Directors closest friends and family. Ideally we need £25,000 to pay everybody fairly but we tackle 1 milestone at a time.
Meet the Team
Producers Statement
find my phone is a project that addresses a topic that is often overlooked on screen: the subtle ways people struggle with mental health while appearing to cope with everyday life. Rather than focusing solely on despair, the film captures the quieter, often hidden moments that reveal someone’s internal struggles.
As a producer, I am committed to telling stories that are both emotionally truthful and engaging for audiences. find my phone balances comedy, tension and drama to create a story that is accessible while still tackling a serious subject. The journey of Alex and his friends demonstrates how support, connection, and small acts of care can make a difference for someone struggling.
This is a film that is close to our hearts. The story draws on personal experiences of depression, suicide, and recovery, but it is told in a way that speaks to a wider audience. It is not a film that depicts a dramatic mental health crisis or focuses on the moments leading up to a decision like suicide; rather, it centres on the process of rebuilding and finding yourself amid the disorienting reality of a depressive episode. Above all, it celebrates the resilience of human connection and the often overlooked ways people show love and support in male friendships.
From a production perspective, we aim to create a visually authentic and intimate world, capturing the humour, chaos, and underlying tension of Alex’s day. The balance of comedy and drama requires a sensitive, empathetic approach to performances, locations, and tone, which we are fully committed to delivering on.
Ultimately, find my phone is a story about hope, friendship, and the small moments that can change one's life. It speaks to anyone who has ever struggled with depression or faced loss, and shines a light on the importance of male mental health support.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made