LIFE GOES ON
Short Film
Project Type: Short Film
Project Status: Distribution
Writers/Directors/Producers: Daniel Audritt & Kat Butterfield
LOGLINE
BILL is in end of life care waiting for the sweet release of death - unfortunately for him, he's stuck in an infinite time loop, causing the day to restart the second his heart stops… A darkly comic yet sweet and hopeful film starring BAFTA winner David Bradley & Emmy nominee Matt Berry.
SYNOPSIS
Bill is ready for death. Death isn’t ready for him.
At 83 and confined to a hospice bed, Bill finds himself caught in a cruel and absurd glitch: every time he dies, the day begins again.
Trapped in an endless loop of his final day, Bill is forced to relive the same visitors, the same mundanity, the same missed opportunities - again and again. As frustration turns to reflection, he begins to realise that what’s keeping him here isn’t fate, but something left unresolved.
An unexpectedly poignant, joyful and life-affirming dark comedy about finding light in the darkest of places.
MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT
End of life care is a highly taboo topic rarely, if ever, depicted on screen - an uncomfortable and unglamorous cause which we believe deserves attention, especially as it affects every one of us at some point or another. The film has been described extensively in reviews as a warm, uplifting, life affirming tear jerker - a cathartic, healing experience for its audience that celebrates life, no matter how little of it we have left.
I used to work in the fundraising & marketing team of a Hospice in Lancashire (UK) and I am now using the festival world stage to spread the word of hospice care at Q&As and press interviews. A huge part of the ‘why’ behind the film is to bust myths around end of life care and to showcase them as a place of warmth, love and hope rather than the ‘doom and gloom’ places you expect them to be.
My first-hand experience working at a Hospice makes me uniquely suited to tackle this topic sensitively and is forming a key part of the PR campaign around the film. The film has been described by audiences and reviewers as a sensitive and tenderly handled balance of humour and pathos, exploring what makes a ‘good’ death through a dark comedy lens.
The hope is that a widespread, prestige awards campaign and any resulting Oscar shortlist/nomination status will spread huge awareness of Hospice care thanks to the film’s engaging, accessible and entertaining message.
MEET THE FILMMAKERS
Daniel Audritt & Kat Butterfield
Writer/Director/Producers
Daniel Audritt & Kat Butterfield are a filmmaking duo based in the UK who make bold British comedy with heart. They both studied writing & producing comedy at the prestigous NFTS but their paths only crossed when they worked at the British charity Comic Relief, set up by Richard Curtis.
There they co-created the LOVIE award-winning ‘Comic Relief Originals’ series, featuring Jamie Demetriou, Natasia Demetriou, Lolly Adefope & Nick Mohammed as well as comedy icons like Stephen Fry & Jennifer Saunders. Their viral hit videos have amassed over 500M views worldwide and been broadcast on BBC One & NBC. Their Comedy Central series ‘Modern Horror Stories’ was nominated for Best Writer at the Edinburgh TV Festival Awards.
Having worked for 10+ years in comedy, they’ve written for BBC, Netflix, ITV & Channel 4 and for stars like Anna Kendrick, Emma Thompson, Eddie Redmayne, Paul Rudd and the cast of Stranger Things. Alongside this, they’ve directed award-winning advertisements for brands like Experian and the charity Movember, as well as the Cannes Lions Awards live broadcast.
They’ve had development deals with Disney+, ITVX and their debut feature script was selected for the prestigious Film London Production Finance Market and has considerable interest from multiple major distributors.
This is their first short film and its production was entirely self-funded by combined inheritances from Dan’s grandma and Kat’s great uncle, who both reached the age of 100.
Your Help
LIFE GOES ON is a fiscally sponsored project of Cinematography for Actors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation will be tax-deductible!