Symptoms tells the story of a trainee doctor, Sam, and his final practical examination. Set in the world – known well to most actors – of fake illness and playing a part, not all of the “patients” that Sam sees are who they seem.
Written by award-winning screenwriter Chris Brown, Symptoms is an indepth look into the nature of illness, and of acting as well as showing just what a tough job our doctors have to do.
Director: Marianna Dean
Writer: Christopher Brown
Producers: Marianna Dean, Zoe Cunningham, Ollie Watts
Cast: Dan Lam, Zoe Cunningham, Amy Newton, Katharine Davenport, Steve Peck, Serhat Metin, Denys Gaskill, Maria Ingold and Jeryl Burgess
AWARDS
(winner) Best Director – Los Angeles Film Awards
(winner) Best Director – Accolade Global Film Awards
(winner) Best Film – Alaska International Film Festival
(winner) Best Screenplay – Indian Cine Film Festival
(winner) Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress – Latitude Film Awards
(nominated) Best British Film – Leeds International Film Festival
(nominated) Best Film – Marbella International Film Festival
(nominated) Best Foreign Film, Best Actress – LA Independent Film Festival Awards
“Straight from the start we are able to see Marianna Dean’s directing talent, with a very impressive opening single shot that introduces us to Sam and sets the light hearted and slightly comedic tone of the first half of the film. The quality of the shooting is not diminished as it progresses either and keeps it’s tone by never sitting still for long on any shot, with its slow pans and handheld motion which give the movie a natural setting and allows us to feel as though we are stood next to the characters.”
Symptoms is a film of real promise from director Marianna Dean, within a short space she manages to convey tension, laughter and ultimately sadness, in a story that would resonate with the majority of audiences and most importantly it reminds us of what we all find to be most comforting, somebody to talk to.” – Michael Fiott, UK Film Review (https://www.ukfilmreview.co.uk/post/symptoms-short-film)
“Symptoms is a very fluent short.” – David Abraham, Channel 4, Symptoms
“I like films that toss my expectations to the side and say “Follow me here!” That’s exactly what Symptoms does and it does so quite effectively.” – Richard Propes, The Independent Critic (https://theindependentcritic.com/symptoms)