Sebastian (2024)
Director: Mikko Mäkelä Run Time: 110 min. Rating: Unrated Release Year: 2024
Starring: Dylan Brady, Hiftu Quasem, Ingvar E. Sigurðsson, Jonathan Hyde, Ruaridh Mollica
Country: United Kingdom, Finland, Belgium
Languages: English, French
About the film:
Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival 2024.
Max is a 25-year-old writer living in London and paying his dues working at a literary magazine. On the cusp of finding success in the local lit scene, by night Max moonlights as a sex worker in order to research his debut novel. What begins as a few furtive meetings soon becomes a secret nocturnal life as his alter ego “Sebastian.” In a fearless lead performance from newcomer Ruraridh Mollica, Max’s emotions cycle through ecstasy, shame, and exhilarating liberation. Far from simply informing his autobiographical fiction, Max’s experiences as Sebastian awaken a deeper sense of self, unshackled from societal expectations – all the while threatening his carefully-earned status in the literary community.
“Provocative, explicit, and ultimately tender… Takes us into the shadow worlds of niche sexuality and queer sex work in London.”
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire
About the filmmaker:
Mikko Mäkelä is a Finnish-British writer/director based in London who was named by IndieWire in 2022 as one of 25 LGBTQ Filmmakers on the Rise. His feature directorial debut A Mountain in the Reeds (2017) screened at over 80 festivals worldwide, including BFI London Film Festival, Göteborg Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival and Frameline. The film was nominated for The Discovery Award at the British Independent Film Awards as well as two Finnish Jussi awards. Prior to his feature debut, Mäkelä directed a number of music and fashion promos alongside working as a an editor in drama and commercials. His sophomore feature Sebastian (2024) premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2024.
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