George MacKay, Louisa Harland and Nathalie Emmanuel Join Calvin Demba's Short Film 'The Animals'
Calvin Demba has assembled a striking cast for his second short film behind the camera. George MacKay, Louisa Harland, Nathalie Emmanuel and Eric Kofi Abrefa star in "The Animals," written and directed by Demba and produced by Tuli Litvak (Variety).
Demba is a British actor, writer and director best known on screen for the Netflix hit "Supercell." He made his directorial debut with 2022's "BabyDolls." "The Animals" marks his return to the short form — and the project is already drawing industry attention. His script was named one of the Top 5 finalists for a production grant in Shore Scripts' 2025 Short Film Fund Spring Season (Shore Scripts).
The story follows Miles, played by MacKay, as he wrestles with feelings of emasculation and emotional impotency within his relationship with Remona, played by Harland. When another man's act of heroism during a violent home invasion gives Miles a chance to reclaim his sense of self, the film forces him to confront destructive masculine ideals. Demba has described the tone as darkly comic, with violence grounded in reality, taking a satirical look at how masculinity can become performative (Variety).
MacKay said he was drawn to the project by the script and the chance to work with Demba, calling the director's mix of detail and freedom his favourite part of the process. The film was shot earlier this year on 16mm by cinematographer Ebba Hult, edited by Mdhamiri Á Nkemi and graded by Canadian colourist Jodie Davison — a craft-heavy lineup for a short-form project. Executive producers include BAFTA winners Mouktar Mohammed and Sheila Nortley, alongside Demba and Harland themselves (Variety).
"The Animals" will begin its festival run at a BAFTA and Oscar-qualifying major festival, with the specific event to be announced soon. For a short film, that qualifying status matters: festival selection at the right venue can open the door to awards consideration, which in turn helps secure financing for a longer version. Demba is already in early development with the BFI — the British Film Institute, the UK's lead public body for film — to expand "The Animals" into a feature film (Variety).
For audiences, the names carry weight. MacKay led Sam Mendes's "1917." Harland broke out in "Derry Girls." Emmanuel is familiar to millions from the "Fast & Furious" franchise and "Game of Thrones." Abrefa has appeared in "Supacell" and "The Wheel of Time." Seeing them together in a 16mm short signals a filmmaker whose material is attracting serious talent before it reaches a feature-length budget.
