MovieHorrorDramaFantasy
The Essence Of Youth
2026. Wales, United Kingdom. The life of young and naive AVA HOWELL (18) is unsettled when everything she thought she knew about her childhood unravels. After waking up in a dark void, Ava is forced to face her subconscious trauma through vivid and uncanny dreamscapes in order to discover the truth about her mother KIRSTY HOWELL (38). The Essence Of Youth is an ambitious surrealist MA student film that utilises virtual production, motion capture and locations around Cardiff to tell the story. This film does not use AI in any capacity from pre-production all the way to post-production.
- Director
- Ruaidhri Guest
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Cast
Felix Atlas Edwards
Ava Howell
Carys Marshall
Kirsty Howell
India
Young Ava Howell
River Pappouli
Supporting Artist
Rhiannon Bringhurst
Supporting Artist
Alex Torretti
Supporting Artist
Ruaidhri Guest
Supporting Artist
Ruaidhri Guest
Motion Capture Artist
Alex Torretti
Motion Capture Artist
Elsa Wagnon
Motion Capture Artist
Felix Atlas Edwards
Motion Capture Artist
Crew
Directing
- Ruaidhri GuestDirector
- Ryan HillmanAssistant Director
Writing
- Kayleigh SkidmoreWriter
- Jessica Mali Celyn ThomasWriter
Production
- Maria CaladoProducer
- Rhiannon BringhurstProducer
Camera
- Alex TorrettiDirector of Photography
- Amanda PapancaCamera Operator
- Elsa WagnonAssistant Camera
Editing
- Cofi Chater-JacksonEditor
Sound
- Rhiannon BringhurstSound Recordist
- Lisa WhiteSound Recordist
- George LockMusic Arranger
Costume & Make-Up
- Ffion (Zero)Makeup Artist
- EllaMakeup Artist
Visual Effects
- Ben RichardsVFX Artist
- LawVFX Artist