Draft:Toby Kearton

Short Films

Kearton first gained attention with his NYFA intermediate short film Dissonance, a dystopian drama about a world where music is outlawed^[10][11]. The film was shot over five days in January 2017 on location in Manhattan, Kew Gardens and Queens House of Detention. It was Kearton’s first collaboration with Brazilian producer João Paneguini. The film premiered at the Court Métrage at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018^[12] and won multiple awards at international festivals, including Best Director at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards.^[13] The film’s composer Ramesh Kumar Kannan, was nominated for best original score for a short film at the 9th Hollywood Music in Media Awards.

In the same year, he directed two historical short films^[14], The Dust Child set during the Vietnam War^[15] filmed in seven hours at Malibu Creek State Park doubling as Vietnam and The Little Picture^[16], set during occupied France during the final days of the second world war in Europe.^[17] The Little Picture was filmed at the Zortherian Ranch over the course of four days and marked the second collaboration with producer João Panguini. Both films collectively won more than twenty awards on the international festival circuit, including the Annual Award at the Top Shorts Film Festival in 2020.^[18]

He went on to direct the short film Pricks, an adaptation of a one woman stage production by playwright Jade Byrne.^[19] The original play explores the experiences of people living with Type 1 diabetes and was developed through Byrne’s work as an advocate for diabetes awareness.^[20] Pricks entered production in Darlington in September 2021 and wrapped a week later. Pricks premiered at the Royal College of Physicians on 18th March 2022 at the annual Talk About Diabetes Seminar and was the finalist at the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival^[21] and won Best Docu-Drama at the Women X Film Festival in 2023.^[22]

In 2022, Kearton directed Hidden Wounds, a one minute public service announcement exploring the lasting psychological effects of military service and trauma among veterans.^[23]

Kearton directed the short film Kamerad, having co-written the script with Kári Liljendal during the Covid-19 pandemic.^[24] The film is inspired by the story of Henry Tandey, a British private who was later associated with a widely circulated claim that he had spared the life of a wounded German corporal during the first world war, who was later alleged to have been Adolf Hitler.^[25] Kamerad entered production in Evesham in September 2022 for three days. The film premiered in the United States at the Madison Film Festival in August 2023^[26] and in the UK at the Flatpack Film Festival in May 2024 where it was nominated for best short film.^[27] Kamerad was awarded best short film at the 2024 Los Alamos Film Festival^[28] and Kearton won the 2024 Jury Award for Best Director at the Door County Festival in Wisconsin.^[29]

In 2024, Kearton directed the documentary short Dick Dangerfield: Defending Drama, a 30-minute film examining the challenges facing the lack of funding in the performing arts in the United Kingdom.^[30]

Television

In summer 2024, Kearton directed the pilot episode of the television series Livin’ with the Devil, created by Emilia Böhme and Praveen Srinivas.^[31] The series follows a young couple navigating the difficulties of shared living after a breakup. The pilot was shot in London over the course of nine days and was developed as a proof-of-concept for a potential series and has since been made available on demand.^[32]

In April 2024, Kearton became a mentor of Directors UK and was mentored by director Azhur Saleem through the Inspire Mentorship Scheme.^[33] This led Kearton acting as Shadow Director on Series 2 of ITV’s After The Flood.^[6]

Feature Film

Kearton’s feature length directorial debut, Sweet Nothings^[34], began production in July 2025 in Scothern, Lincoln and entered post-production in October of the same year.^[35] The film, a drama, romance, mystery, is about a man confronting secrets from his past the day before his wedding. It stars Benjamin Schnau, Bee Good, Samson Ajewole and Kate Cook.^[36]

Feature film

Short film

Television