Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
After sex, a couple's conversation about their relationship gets derailed by a persistent fly.
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Afterplay by Iris Breward
irisbreward.co.uk
"The main point of the film is to show that the couple aren’t saying what they mean, rather than ascribing a particular meaning to that subtext, if that makes sense. It’s a film about avoidance, confusion, insecurity, and power games; there isn’t one final right answer that I was trying to hide. So that’s quite liberating, really. I didn’t need, or want, to point to a conclusion within the subtext or signal information necessary to understand the plot – it was more about creating life underneath the words that could be interpreted in many different ways by different audiences. I avoided the temptation to make anything too literal, I encouraged the actors to find their own secrets, tried to flip and change that as much as possible, and basically let the magic of the unspoken flourish on its own."
🎙️ Dive deeper into the making of Afterplay with our exclusive interview with writer/director Iris Breward
directorsnotes.com/2026/03/31/iris-breward-afterplay
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// Credits //
Director & Writer: Iris Breward
Producer: Chloé Huybens
Starring: Sonny Poon Tip & Ciara Berkeley
CAST
Jacob: Sonny Poon Tip
Nadia: Ciara Berkeley
CREW
Director & Writer: Iris Breward
Producer: Chloé Huybens
Executive Producers: Julian Roberts & Xav Cohen
DoP: Essi Hyrkki
1st AC: Oscar Rutishauser-Mills
Gaffer: Mark Lane
Assistant Director: Sarah Nocquet
Intimacy Coordinator: Ian West
Sound Recordist: Emily Compton
Sound Assistant: Fynnlugh Greenfield-Brown
Editor: Rachel Franks
Sound Designer: Tom Brewins
Colourist: Ellen Yu
Composer: Hani Hooper
Titles Design: Beth Morris
ABOUT DIRECTORS NOTES
Since 2006 Directors Notes has curated the world's best independent films alongside exclusive daily deep dive interviews which provide behind the scenes insights into the inspirations and production stories of the most talented filmmakers on the planet.
#relationshiptalk #relationship #fly #comedy #drama #shortfilm
After sex, a couple's conversation about their relationship gets derailed by a persistent fly.
🔔 Love indie films? SUBSCRIBE to Directors Notes for more trailblazing shorts: youtube.com/c/directorsnotes
🎥 Want to see your film here? Submit your work to Directors Notes: directorsnotes.com/submit
Afterplay by Iris Breward
irisbreward.co.uk
"The main point of the film is to show that the couple aren’t saying what they mean, rather than ascribing a particular meaning to that subtext, if that makes sense. It’s a film about avoidance, confusion, insecurity, and power games; there isn’t one final right answer that I was trying to hide. So that’s quite liberating, really. I didn’t need, or want, to point to a conclusion within the subtext or signal information necessary to understand the plot – it was more about creating life underneath the words that could be interpreted in many different ways by different audiences. I avoided the temptation to make anything too literal, I encouraged the actors to find their own secrets, tried to flip and change that as much as possible, and basically let the magic of the unspoken flourish on its own."
🎙️ Dive deeper into the making of Afterplay with our exclusive interview with writer/director Iris Breward
directorsnotes.com/2026/03/31/iris-breward-afterplay
👉 Follow Us for More Short Film Greatness:
Newsletter: directorsnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Instagram: instagram.com/directorsnotes
Podcast: pod.link/192507317
// Credits //
Director & Writer: Iris Breward
Producer: Chloé Huybens
Starring: Sonny Poon Tip & Ciara Berkeley
CAST
Jacob: Sonny Poon Tip
Nadia: Ciara Berkeley
CREW
Director & Writer: Iris Breward
Producer: Chloé Huybens
Executive Producers: Julian Roberts & Xav Cohen
DoP: Essi Hyrkki
1st AC: Oscar Rutishauser-Mills
Gaffer: Mark Lane
Assistant Director: Sarah Nocquet
Intimacy Coordinator: Ian West
Sound Recordist: Emily Compton
Sound Assistant: Fynnlugh Greenfield-Brown
Editor: Rachel Franks
Sound Designer: Tom Brewins
Colourist: Ellen Yu
Composer: Hani Hooper
Titles Design: Beth Morris
ABOUT DIRECTORS NOTES
Since 2006 Directors Notes has curated the world's best independent films alongside exclusive daily deep dive interviews which provide behind the scenes insights into the inspirations and production stories of the most talented filmmakers on the planet.
#relationshiptalk #relationship #fly #comedy #drama #shortfilm
