Withhold is a poignant exploration of family, trauma, and the struggle for closure. At its core, the story follows Adam, a new father, as he confronts his strained relationship with his own ailing father, Paul. Through their tense interactions, the film delves into themes of resentment, emotional wounds, and the cyclical nature of pain passed down through generations. The contrast between Adam’s role as a father and his lingering bitterness toward Paul highlights the difficulty of breaking free from the past while trying to build a better future. Themes of guilt, regret, and the longing for reconciliation are woven throughout, culminating in a deeply emotional resolution that speaks to the power of confronting one’s history. Withhold ultimately asks whether true healing is possible and whether love, even when imperfect, can endure despite the weight of past mistakes.
Adam: A young father struggling with the weight of his past and the responsibilities of his present. Adam is deeply conflicted, torn between resentment toward his own father and the desire to be a better parent to his newborn. He is emotionally guarded, carrying years of pain from a childhood overshadowed by neglect. Beneath his hardened exterior, Adam yearns for closure, love, and the ability to move forward without being haunted by the past.
Paul: Adam’s estranged father, now a frail and aging man living in isolation. Once a domineering and emotionally distant figure, Paul is haunted by his past mistakes and the strained relationship with his son. He is stubborn and defensive, but beneath his hardened demeanor lies a deep, unspoken regret. Paul struggles with his declining health and the realisation that he may never mend the wounds he inflicted on his son.
Callum Aherne
Writer/Director/Producer
Callum Aherne is a British actor and writer whose passion for storytelling shines through both his on-screen performances and his written work. His short film Withhold garnered significant attention, earning a spot on the shortlist for the First Time Filmmaker Fund by Slick Films, the studio renowned for producing the Oscar- winning short The Silent Child. This recognition highlights Callum’s ability to craft deeply engaging and emotionally impactful stories.
Callum’s approach to both acting and writing is shaped by a diverse array of influences, reflecting his deep appreciation for storytelling across genres and cultures. Directors like Shane Meadows and Park Chan-wook have had a profound impact on his artistic style, inspiring his exploration of raw human emotions, complex relationships, and striking visual aesthetics.
As an actor, Callum’s performances resonate with authenticity and versatility, allowing him to inhabit roles across a wide emotional spectrum. Whether portraying characters in intimate dramas or more stylised narratives, he brings a thoughtful, layered approach to his craft.
Felix Piasecki
Producer/Cinematographer/Editor
Felix Piasecki is a filmmaker and storyteller, with a passion for storytelling in a variety of mediums such as film, video games and literature. He is massively inspired by filmmakers such as Sean baker, Wong Kar Wai and Wim Wenders. He is particularly interested in the psychological subtleties possible within all genres to create truly haunting and atmospheric storytelling. With Felix places the same emphasis on atmosphere and psychological depth in his storytelling. His previous project Volition explored themes of personal connection to horror. Felix began his professional career in production and post-production on a number of small scale projects for award winning filmmaker Anne-Marie Scragg, including commissions that explored the rights of underprivileged children and minority communities.
Felix’s first major opportunity was working in post-production for Screenlife. This has been a hugely fulfilling journey, editing and creating content for Lifehack and producing trailers for Accelerator Content and most recently for the newly published Screenlife Filmmaking Guidebook.
We can't wait to announce further crew members in the future as a part of our team!
Our aim is to reach £1,500. The budget would be used for the following resources:
Cast: With your help, we can pay them for their craft based of the PACT/Equity standard daily rate outside London which is £107.14 per day.
Crew: Due to the nature of the short we are utilising a skeleton crew with the aim to use a portion of our funding to pay our crew the National Living Wage (£11.44) on a 10 hour day.
Expenses: We aim to cover expenses and catering for our cast. the average cost for travel expenses is £90.
Post Production: A portion of funding will be used to cover post production costs including editing, score and colouring.
Festival Run: Any money left over after the shoot will be used to submit to festivals. The average submission cost is £20.
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