Short Film Captures Our Need for Human Connection and Empathy When Navigating Trauma

Werner Vivier is a South African-Swiss writer and director based in London. In February of 2023, Werner’s short film script ‘Liana’ was shortlisted at the prestigious BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition. Before this, he cut his teeth in the film & advertising industry as a go-to Creative Researcher and Director’s Assistant, working for some of the most awarded international production companies such as Object & Animal, Academy Films, Caviar, Snapper Films, Pulse Films, Smuggler, Riff Raff, and more. 

With the experience of assisting renowned directing talents, such as Bert & Bertie, FKA twigs, Natalie Rae, Daniel Warwick, Tanu Muino, Martin Krejci, and Filip Nilsson (and many more), Werner embarked on his own directorial career in 2021, writing and directing his debut short film Winter Coat. The film went on to play at festivals like Encounters, LA Shorts, British Urban, British Shorts, and Indie Memphis, as well as being featured on Booooooom TV & Omeleto.

Werner’s second short film Walls Like Windows stars Anthony Welsh and BAFTA nominee & Olivier Award winner Juliet Stevenson, and was produced by C24 Films & Mental Images, in association with Object & Animal and Snapper Films. Currently, on the festival circuit, it has screened at various Oscar and BAFTA qualifying festivals, and won (x2) Golds at the Kinsale Shark Awards for ‘Best Short’ & ‘Best Performance', as well as being nominated for ‘Best Short’ at the Cannes Young Director Award (YDA), and 1.4 awards.