Underplayed Gems

Brief Somebodies (2026)

Brief Somebodies poster
Country
Canada
Runtime
14 min
Elsewhere
IMDb
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The catalogue in 3D

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How it feels

Two actors play a scene depicting sexual assault, then find an emotional bond forming between them. The story follows their connection as it grows outside the film shoot.

intimatetendercontemplativerestrainedprovocativeemotionally chargedclose-focus

What happens

Brief Somebodies is a Canadian short drama film, directed by Andy Reid and released in 2025. The film stars Aldrin Bundoc and Matt O'Connor as Joel and Calvin, actors who are filming a scene in which Calvin's character sexually assaults Joel's character, only for the two men to develop an emotional connection outside of the filming process. The cast also includes Noor Kaur Dhanda as intimacy coordinator Ria, as well as Karim Butt and Reid himself in supporting roles. The film premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, where Reid won the Redbreast Unhidden Award. It had its Canadian premiere in the National Short Film Competition at the 2025 Festival du nouveau cinéma. It was screened at the Inside Out Film and Video Festival in 2026, winning the juried award for Best Canadian Short Film. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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