Yasmin Afifi’s BAFTA nominated short JELLYFISH & LOBSTER is a timeless tale of finding life in the face of death, joy in the face of despair and magic in the most unlikely of places.
JELLYFISH AND LOBSTER is a 2023 graduation film from the National Film and Television School, it is officially selected as one of the 5 nominees for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2024 BAFTA awards.
Before landing this huge accolade the film was recognized at the British Short Film Awards, where it won three awards, Jury Award, Best British Director and the Best Editing, it also took home the Audience Award at Encounters and Best Short Film at SOUL Fest.
In our interview below, Yasmin explains the concept of the film, which came from personal experience, her father and her aunt, both who passed away from cancer.
She takes two characters in this film who are facing their own mortality and adds humor, a fountain of youth, and a friendship of two unlikely souls. Yasmin created a perfect recipe that we want more of in cinema.
Is this film sad? I didn’t feel that way at all, but you know that their time on Earth is coming to an end, but the feisty Grace (Flo Wilson) and the endearing Mido (Sayed Bradreya) bring a warmth that everyone needs when the day comes to say goodbye. The mixture of humor will have you laughing out loud, but when it comes to life, we don’t want it to end.
Actors Flo Wilson and Sayed Bradreya give stellar performances and never flinch when it comes to the sexual innuendos in the film, which were an element that hey, people have needs regardless if death is staring you in the face.
Facing your mortality, while trying to live as if you have immortality is a balance that Yasmin brings to this film. She is already working on the feature film, so maybe if she wins the BAFTA, she will end up with a future Oscar nomination.
JELLYFISH & LOBSTER satisfies the appetite for love, friendship and a bit of humorous goofiness we need and we need it right now!
