Open Up
(Samuel Sultana, 2026)
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Cannibals have always fascinated me. The proven existence of them across species. The ambiguity of the biological imperative that drives them. The emphasis on their humanity being retained while still doing something so truly monstrous. Lucy's script told an immediately urgent and gripping story, that was perfectly structured for a short film and had a complete arc while leaving room for curiosity and ambiguity.With this film, I wanted to communicate the entrapment and claustrophobia that John accepts. The feeling of an invisible enemy getting at you, stopping you from protecting the ones you love most. Feeling your throat closing up as you search for any clue to confirm your worst fear, that what's on the screen is more real than your reality. The threat of violence, of being stripped for parts by monsters that look nothing like you, around every corner.
This film is produced as part of the Short Film Production module.
SYNOPSIS
After a work injury leaves him retired and unable to provide for himself, John falls into a dangerous path of following corrupt media, which tells him that the government are allowing vicious cannibals to enter the country. When he receives a call from his daughter wanting to come round for tea, he refuses, too afraid she might be hurt or killed.
A knock at the door breaks John's fabricated peace when a man claiming to be a starving homeless person wants to enter his home. This pushes John into a state of paranoia, convinced that the cannibals have found his home, he begins to see his imagined cannibals.
Another surprise visitor comes to the door; however, this time, claiming to be his daughter. John must make the ultimate decision to risk himself to save his daughter from the cannibals or to sink further into his own despair, losing her forever.
A knock at the door breaks John's fabricated peace when a man claiming to be a starving homeless person wants to enter his home. This pushes John into a state of paranoia, convinced that the cannibals have found his home, he begins to see his imagined cannibals.
Another surprise visitor comes to the door; however, this time, claiming to be his daughter. John must make the ultimate decision to risk himself to save his daughter from the cannibals or to sink further into his own despair, losing her forever.
CAST
John Daniel Coll
Amanda Rebecca McSkeane
Mike
Ryan McNeil
Chris
Matthew Davies Stranger Sebastian Fandiño Fernandez TV AnnouncerJames Samuel Cannibal
Christian Carmona Cannibal
Fred Whistance
Director
Samuel Sultana Writer
Production Design & SFX make-up
Lucy Scott Producer
Chenay Kamara Editor
Sound Design
VFX/ Colourist
James Samuel Director of Photography Ambra Fernandez Bejarano Composer
Mary Blick Production Design Assistants
Arlo Freeman Gimbal Operator
Samuel Poon 1st Assistant Director
Bruna Pinedo Beongchea 2nd Assistant Camera
Nico Denvir-Araoz Foley Artists
Abigail Riddles Sound Recordists
Sound Design
Evie Jackson Sound Recordists
Ivan Yip
BTS Photographer
Joseph Melody Boom Operator
Lauren Smith Script Supervisor
Lily Graf Boom Operator
Peggy Yiu Runner
Sofiya Nesterova
Ryan McNeil
Matthew Davies
Christian Carmona
Fred Whistance
Samuel Sultana
Production Design & SFX make-up
Lucy Scott
Chenay Kamara
Sound Design
VFX/ Colourist
James Samuel
Mary Blick
Arlo Freeman
Samuel Poon
Bruna Pinedo Beongchea
Nico Denvir-Araoz
Abigail Riddles
Sound Design
Evie Jackson
Ivan Yip
Joseph Melody
Lauren Smith
Lily Graf
Peggy Yiu
Sofiya Nesterova
BTS
Crew List
Director - Samuel Sultana
Writer - Lucy Scott
Producer - Chenay Kamara
Director of Photography - Ambra Fernandez Bejarano
Production Design & SFX make-up - Lucy Scott
Editor - James Samuel
Sound Design - James Samuel, Evie Jackson
Composer - Mary Blick
1st Assistant Director - Bruna Pinedo Beongchea
Associate Producer - James Samuel
Runner - Sofiya Nesterova
Script Supervisor - Lily Graf
Gaffer - James Samuel
1st Assistant Camera - Sebastian Fandiño Fernandez
2nd Assistant Camera - Nico Denvir-Araoz
Gimbal Operator - Samuel Poon
Sound Recordists - Evie Jackson, Ivan Yuhan
Boom Operator - Peggy Yiu, Lauren Smith
Foley Artists - Abigail Riddles, Chenay Kamara
Production Design Assistants - Abigail Riddles, Ryan McNeil, Arlo Freeman
Sound Editor - James Samuel
Visual Effects - James Samuel
Colourist - James Samuel
BTS Photographer - Joseph Melody