“Fate: The Winx Saga” star Hannah van der Westhuysen will make their directorial debut with the short film “Peter,” starring “We Live in Time” breakout Lee Braithwaite.
Written by van der Westhuysen and produced by the Oscar-winning Slick Films (“The Silent Child”) and “Sex Education” actor George Somner’s 13:8 Films, “Peter” follows Elliott (Braithwaite), a young trans man caring for his father, Peter, who is living with alcohol-induced dementia.
“When Peter offers Elliott his old clothes — a seemingly small gesture — it takes on profound meaning,” the short’s official synopsis reads. “Is Peter’s momentary acceptance a byproduct of his memory loss, or has his vulnerability allowed him to truly see Elliott, both as his son and the man he’s become?”
“For me, this film is about dignity and identity — maintaining both when the world or your circumstances threaten to strip them away,” van der Westhuysen said in a statement. “In an era where society is profoundly fragmented, it’s crucial to showcase connections across widely disparate generations and experiences.”
“Peter” has partnered with charities Not a Phase and the Alzheimer’s Association in production. “This film is more than a story — it is a tool for awareness and advocacy,” a press release states. “Once completed, ‘Peter’ will serve as part of fundraising campaigns and awareness initiatives for these charities, helping to amplify their missions and reach.”
Trained at the Drama Centre London, van der Westhuysen has appeared on Paramount+’s “Sexy Beast” and Netflix’s “The Sandman” in addition to their starring role in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” As a writer, they co-penned the pilot “Click Here to Scream,” which is currently being shopped for production, and created the comedy series “The Fboy Podcast.”
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art graduate Braithwaite recently starred alongside Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh in John Crowley’s “We Live in Time.” On stage, he featured opposite Emma D’Arcy and Tobias Menzies in the National Theatre’s “The Other Place” and led the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of “Cowbois.”
Somner has held roles in shows including “Sex Education” and “Gangs of London” as well as the “Hunger Games” film “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” As a producer at 13:8 Films, his most recent short, “Man>Code,” world premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival and went on to screen at over 20 BAFTA and Oscar-qualifying fests including BFI Flare.
