The upcoming romantic sci-fi short film Celeste in the Summer is officially heading to the HollyShorts Film Festival for its world premiere. Written and directed by Hobby Holmes, the project explores the complex boundaries between devotion and control within a relationship.
Set against the backdrop of an endless summer day, the story follows a couple whose seemingly perfect life begins to unravel as questions about their reality emerge. The film features performances by Alice McMillan and Freddy Carter, who navigate the psychological tension as the lines between love and memory start to blur.
A New Direction for Hobby Holmes
The film marks a narrative shift for Holmes, who previously spent over a decade directing music films for Mahogany Sessions, working with artists such as Billie Eilish and Hozier. By utilizing his background in music and visual storytelling, Holmes aims to create an immersive experience that relies more on atmosphere and score than heavy dialogue. This approach is intended to ground the film’s subtle science fiction elements in genuine human emotion.
Why This Matters
For fans of character-driven genre pieces, the collaboration between Holmes and his lead actors offers a compelling look at how short-form cinema can tackle heavy themes like autonomy and trust. By blending an idyllic setting with an unsettling narrative, the film positions itself as a meditation on the dangers of attempting to control the people we love. Its selection for the HollyShorts Film Festival highlights the project as a notable entry in this year’s festival circuit.
Source: HollyShorts Film Festival
