The State of Us, a feature directorial debut from Ollie Gardner and Jake Harvey, will premiere in competition at Edinburgh International Film Festival on Friday. The film centers on Frankie, a boisterous character portrayed by Samuel Bottomley, who is confronting the approaching death of his best friend Taylor, played by Callum Scott Howells. In a moment of impulse, Frankie arranges for Taylor to leave hospice care for a single evening of revelry and adventure, though the night ultimately becomes far more emotionally complex than initially anticipated.
A released clip shows Bottomley’s character encouraging Howells’ Taylor to embrace the evening at a house party, where the two friends briefly find relief through dancing and reconnection. The narrative draws inspiration from Harvey’s personal experiences, specifically his friendship group from childhood and a friend named Jake Andrews, who succumbed to cancer at age 18. Both filmmakers pursued separate artistic careers—Harvey in television and Gardner in theater—before collaborating on this feature project.
The supporting cast includes Frances Barber, Safia Oakley-Green, Seamus O’Hara, and Duggal Ram. Gardner expressed hope that the film would resonate with young men by presenting friendship dynamics that balance humor with emotional authenticity. He described the project as an exploration of masculinity and male relationships, intended to contribute to broader conversations on the subject. Harvey highlighted the filmmakers’ desire to create an accessible work that incorporates both humor and darker elements while reaching audiences who need to engage with its themes.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival takes place from Aug. 14-21, with The Incomer serving as the opening selection. Festival director Paul Ridd characterized the competition lineup as their strongest since the event’s reboot three years ago, noting that it surpasses the quality of previous years’ selections.
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