The Unwinding
Short Film (2023): London, UK
Written & Directed by Brendan Davis
Feature Film: Newcastle, UK
Written and to be Directed by Brendan Davis

Logline:
A despondent widower befriends a young woman who helps him find new reasons to keep on living.

Synopsis:
David is a retired widower battling depression as the anniversary of his wife May’s death approaches. He avoids his only friend, Chris, and plans a quiet farewell. But when he connects with Lily, a warm, intuitive delivery woman, he finds an unexpected reason to keep going. Their unlikely friendship blossoms over shared Chinese lessons and meals, until a well-meaning introduction threatens to unravel everything.

About the Project:
The Unwinding was shot in London in 2023 and premiered to critical acclaim. It stars Kevin Michael West as David, Izyan Hay as Lily, and Daniel Charles Doherty as Chris. The film was written, directed, edited, and scored by Brendan Davis, shot by Naeem Seirafi, and produced by Roger King (200 Media Ltd) and Brendan Davis, Susan Qin Davis, and Naeem Seirafi (Malkuth Film), with executive producer Stan Ruszkowski (Ruszkowski Entertainment).

Awards include:

• Winner, Best Picture – 2023 Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival

• Honorable Mention, 2023 Vienna International Film Awards

• Official Selection, 2023 Cinematography & Photography Awards

• Finalist, 2023 New York & European Cinematography Awards

• Nominee, Best Short Film – 2025 Liverpool Indie Awards

Feature in Development:
A feature-length version of The Unwinding is currently in development, with plans to shoot in and around Newcastle in the near future.