Mute (2026) is a short film made in support of Confident Children.

"Contrary to its title, Mute is a film you can hear. It wriggles with sound: Chatter, children, pencils, playgrounds, swings, or even silence. Selective Mutism; It is not a conscious, personal, or targeted refusal to speak. It’s fundamentally a physiological reaction to an environment. In making this film, I wanted us to explore the relationship between Megan and her stimuli. By carefully positioning adults on the peripheries of frame, we’re able to use film to convey her rapport with the people in her life. De-centering Megan to take in negative space, we develop the idea that she’s swallowed by her environment. To ‘select’ is to choose, it’s a fundamentally proactive word. What I hope we can achieve with Mute, is develop our audience's perception of Selective Mutism as a response; A response we don’t have to explain to be able to understand."

Shortlisted for the Oscar-backed Slick Film Fund, Semi-Finalist at both Shore Scripts and Outstanding Screenplays, and named a Finalist at the Scriptation Showcase, Mute went on showcase at Cannes 2026.

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Credits

Production Company | KE Productions
Director | Emily Freda Sharp
Writer | Elloise Thomson
DOP | Ailsa Aikoa
Producers | Kate Gee-Finch and Elloise Thomson
Editor | Eden Read
Sound Design | Harry Butcher
Composer | Sam Tabasi

Cast
Megan | Seosaimhin Hennelly
Grandad | Carl Welsh
Sarah | Elloise Thomson
Lucy | Kate Gee-Finch
Mr Owens | Dare Emmanuel
Headteacher | Steve Gee-Finch
School Children | Bodhi Morbin, Silas Charleston, Agnes Brown, Aoife Woodall, Chloe Owusu, Carolie McColm, Emily Marie Higgins, Emmaline Crosby, Isla Ling, Kenadee Carter, Leila Mirza, Lorena Carter, Mollie Jodi Stewart, Olive Hughes, Poppy Turner, Rose Potbury, Skyla Rose Swift, Sophia Lee, Sophie Brookes, Toby Crichton, Valentina Amortegui

1st AD | Katie Shephard
Production Designer | Rebecca Ward
Editor | Eden Read
Post-Producer | Ella Kean, The Assembly Rooms
Sound Design | Harry Butcher
Post-Producers | Ornela Peka, Lucy Spong, Runamok
2nd AD | Alizay Agha
1st AC | Jenn Webb
2nd AC | Eden Sandy
Hair & Make-Up | Zoe Thomson
Hair & Make-Up Assistant | Alexandra Lavender
Sound Recordist | Karl Pepper
Sound Assistant | Kayleigh Pepper
Script Supervisor | Tash Cordeaux
Production Assistants | Robin Hunter, Hannah Steele, and Alex Steele
Unit Stills | Vittoriaa Vigliano
BTS | Sue Gee-Finch
Location Driver | Jamie Westgarth

The Assembly Rooms
Runamok
Langley Hall Primary School
Corporate Catering
The Jolly Woodsman Cookham Dean
PQA High Wycombe, Amersham, and Maidenhead
Infinity Dance Company
Confident Children