
2026. Wales, United Kingdom. The life of young and naive AVA HOWELL (18) is unsettled when everything she thought she knew about her childhood unravels. After waking up in a dark void, Ava is forced to face her subconscious trauma through vivid and uncanny dreamscapes in order to discover the truth about her mother KIRSTY HOWELL (38). The Essence Of Youth is an ambitious surrealist MA student film that utilises virtual production, motion capture and locations around Cardiff to tell the story. This film does not use AI in any capacity from pre-production all the way to post-production.
11 Cast Members

Felix Atlas Edwards
Ava Howell
Carys Marshall
Kirsty Howell
India
Young Ava Howell
River Pappouli
Supporting Artist

Rhiannon Bringhurst
Supporting Artist
Alex Torretti
Supporting Artist
Ruaidhri Guest
Supporting Artist
Ruaidhri Guest
Motion Capture Artist
Alex Torretti
Motion Capture Artist

Elsa Wagnon
Motion Capture Artist

Felix Atlas Edwards
Motion Capture Artist
