In this queer drama, we follow Max, a 25-year-old freelance writer and aspiring novelist who seems well on his way to success in London’s cultural spheres. Yet by night, he finds a different kind of exhilaration as a sex worker with the pseudonym Sebastian, meeting men via an escorting platform. Max uses his experiences as Sebastian to fuel his stories and the worthy debut novel that he has been longing to write, finally seems within reach. As Max increasingly struggles to remain in control of a delicately balanced double-life, he must reckon with whether Sebastian is merely a writer’s tool in their quest for the ultimate sense of first-hand authenticity – or whether something more is at stake.
Synopsis
Data
- Original Title: Sebastian
- Genres: Drama
- Production Year: 2024
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom, Belgium, Finland
- Language Spoken: English, French
- Duration: 110
- Screen Ratio: 1.85 : 1
- Admission/rating: 16
- Director: Mikko Mäkelä
- Cast: Ruaridh Mollica, Hiftu Quasem, Jonathan Hyde, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Dylan Brady, Pedro Minas, Matthias Moret, Akbar Kurtha, Laurent Maria, Lara Rossi, Michael Jean-Marain, David Nellist, Leanne Best, Stella Gonet, Jamie Melrose, Tom Hall, Orlando Norman, Peter Collins
- Director of Photography: Iikka Salminen
- Film Editors: Mikko Mäkelä, Arttu Salmi
- Sound Editors: Enos Desjardins
- Script Writers: Mikko Mäkelä
- Production Company: Betes Sauvages
- Producers: James Watson, Dries Phlypo, Erik Glijnis, Leontine Petit, Aleksi Bardy, Severi Koivusalo, Ciara Barry, Rosie Crerar
- Co-Production Companies: Helsinki filmi, barry crerar, Lemming Film
- Composers: Ilari Heinilä
- Executive Producers: Lizzie Francke, Mike Goodridge, Jennifer Armitage, Mariyah Dosani, Philippa Nicholl, Niki Leskinen
- Financiers: BFI, Finnish Film Foundation, Screen Scotland, BNP Film Finance, Great Point Media, Finnish Impact Film Fund
Festivals
Sebastian at festivals
2025:Geelong Pride Film Festival, Australia
Mardi Gras Film Festival, Australia
Europa! Europa Film Festival, Australia
2024:
Ljubljana LGBT Film Festival, Slovenia
Chéries Chéris, France
Festival Mix Brasil, Brazil
Queerstreifen Münster, Germany
Stockholm International Film Festival, Sweden
QCinema International Film Festival, Philippines
Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece
QUEER-Streifen Regensburg, Germany
BFI London Film Festival, UK
Film Fest Gent, Belgium
Festival do Rio, Brazil
Dinard Festival of British Films, France
Golden Village Love & Pride Film Festival, Singapore
Helsinki Intl Film Festival - Love & Anarchy, Finland
The Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund, Norway
Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest, Spain
Festival Mix Milano, Italy
Festival Mix México, Mexico
Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, US
Guadalajara International Film Festival, Mexico
Provincetown International Film Festival, US
NewFest Pride, US
Inside Out Toronto, Canada
Seattle International Film Festival, US
Boston Independent Film Festival, US
OUTshine Film Festival, US
Sundance Film Festival, US
Awards:
Rainbow QC Award for Best LGBTQ Film - QCinema International Film Festival
Honorable Mention for the Jury Award Best Narrative Feature Film - OUTshine Film Festival
Trailer
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