"Tyrant" — Short Film (MetFilm Final MA Project)

Aim: We’re raising £6,000 to complete production on our final MA project TYRANT, a bold period short film about power, loss, faith, and identity.

ABOUT TYRANT

Logline: Based on a true story: when a runaway king is mistaken for a priest, he is captured by fishermen and taken hostage to the mayor’s house.

Most of our team is volunteering their time. We just need a final push to bring the world of Tyrant to life with authentic costumes, real locations, and unforgettable visuals. 

THE STORY

Set in 1688, Tyrant is a dark, atmospheric period short film following King James II, the last absolute monarch of England. As the country teeters on the edge of revolution and the Protestant William of Orange invades from Holland, the Catholic king flees London in disguise. But his escape ends in humiliation when he is mistaken for a priest and captured by local fishermen in the Kentish town of Faversham.

Detained in the home of a formidable matriarch, King James II finds himself powerless, unrecognized, and forced to confront his own fading legacy. In the hands of strangers, he wrestles with questions of identity, faith, and failure, while the world he once ruled slips away.

Based on true events, Tyrant is an intimate portrait of power and loss, a short film that brings history to life with visual richness, emotional weight, and quiet urgency.

WHY DO WE NEED HELP?

Most of our cast and crew are donating their time and talent. We’re students, artists, and early-career filmmakers pooling our resources together. But there are some things we can’t get for free.

We need your help to cover:

•⁠  ⁠Costume materials and rentals

•⁠  ⁠Location fees

•⁠  ⁠Catering for cast & crew

•⁠  ⁠Transport and accommodation

•⁠  ⁠Entry fees to festivals

Any contribution—big or small—goes directly to what you see on screen.

ABOUT US

WHY THIS STORY? AND WHY NOW?

Julia and Reuben are the creative masterminds behind “Tyrant.” The story has lived in Julia’s mind for years now. It’s a project close to her heart, a vision she’s been nurturing, refining, and holding onto.

Reuben has always been drawn to period pieces. The layered textures, the painterly light, the way visual storytelling can elevate the emotional world of a character. As soon as he heard Julia’s idea, the images began forming instantly in his mind — stark, moody, visceral.

Yara joined the project because the intrigue was too delicious to resist. A case of mistaken identity — with a king? That’s storytelling gold. But more than that, she believes in Julia and Reuben’s vision and wants to help bring it to life with the depth and ambition it deserves.

We’re telling a story set in the 17th century, but the questions it raises are deeply contemporary. What happens when the powerful are finally held to account? What does it feel like to lose everything when your identity is built on authority? And most importantly: who do we become when we’re forced to sit in silence?

In a time where conversations around justice, abuse of power, and collective voice feel more urgent than ever, Tyrant looks back, not to glorify the past, but to confront it. It’s about what happens when a man who once ruled over millions is brought to his knees by ordinary people who don’t even know who he is.

As young filmmakers, we’re drawn to this project not just because it’s historical, but because it’s human. Beneath the wigs and flickering candlelight is a story of collapse, confusion, and tolerance. And in a world that so often feels like it’s spinning through crises, we believe stories like this one are more vital than ever.

HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS

We’ve already saved thousands by working with collaborators and student resources. We’ve secured student crew, music by world-renowned baroque violinist Bjarte Eike, and most of our equipment. Here’s what your donation helps pay for:

•⁠  ⁠Costumes: £1,500

•⁠  ⁠Art Department: £700

•⁠  ⁠Locations: £700

•⁠  ⁠Cast & Crew Accommodation: £800

•⁠  ⁠Catering & Transport: £1,300

•⁠  ⁠Distribution & Contingency: £1,000

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 23rd August 2025 at 12:40pm