Maximus
A story of heartache, imagination and magic.
- Format
- Short Film
- Year
- 2021
- Running time
- 16 min
- Status
- Released
A young warrior's fight for his life, told through the eyes of his younger sister.
Synopsis
Maximus follows young India as she tells the story of her brave brother, Maximus, to a seemingly uninterested listener, Mike. What follows is a story only a child could concoct: of loss and triumph, wizards and beasts, angels and warriors.
This isn't some random fantasy. It's a carefully curated plan by a young girl desperate to tell the tale of her brother. This is Maximus.
Credits
Written and Directed by Richard Prendergast
Produced by Rachel Prendergast and Max Mason
Director of Photography Paddy Bartram
1st Assistant Director Jonny Cass
Music Jack Douglas and Daniel Coe
Starring Solly McLeod, Maisie Prendergast, Albert Clogston, Lauren Harris, Cailean Galloway
A SubMotion Productions film in association with Chalice Films
Production note
Based on a true story, Maximus was shot in Thetford Forest over nine days in July 2020, starting the day after lockdown lifted. With horses, sword fights and a 110-strong cast and crew, half of them students from West Suffolk College, it was one of the first large-scale shoots back in the UK. The film won Best Production Craft at the Royal Television Society awards and was released on Omeleto in February 2022.
Festivals and awards
15 official selections · 16 nominations · 5 wins
| Festival | Result |
|---|---|
| Royal Television Society | Winner, Best Production Craft · Nominee, Best Post Production Craft |
| HollyShorts | Winner, Best Action Short Film |
| Indie Shorts Mag | Winner, Best Short Film |
| Nyack Film Festival | Winner, Best Foreign Film and Best Score |
| Birmingham Film Festival | Nominee, Best Costume, Best Production Design, Best Young Actress and Best Special Effects |
| Short Shorts Film Festival | Nominee, Best Short Film and Diversity Award |
| Norwich Film Festival | Nominee, Best East Anglian Film |
| American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers Showcase | Nominee, Best Short Film |
| Young Directors Award | Nominee |
| 1.4 Awards | Nominee |
| Rhode Island International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Cordillera International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| LA Shorts International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Washington West International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Chicago International Children's Film Festival | Official Selection |
Behind the scenes