Rudy

Shona
Auerbach

Shona Auerbach began her career as a stills photographer. Her directorial debut was the short film Seven, which she made whilst completing her MA at the Polish film school. Seven won Best British short film at the British short film festival, Molodist film festival, Munich International Festival of Film Schools, and Best film at Montecatini Filmvideo International Short Film Festival in Italy. Shona spent the next few years directing commercials, alongside preparing her debut feature film, Dear Frankie featuring Emily Mortimer and Gerrard Butler, which was backed by Pathe, and on completion was picked up by Miramax. It was shown at many film festivals including Un Certain Regard, in Cannes, where it received a standing ovation and was headlined in the Times as "The Unknown Brits that stole Cannes”. Shona was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Newcomer & Best Director (Scotland). Since Dear Frankie, Shona returned to shooting commercials alongside co-writing and then making her second feature film Rudy. She is presently attached to three other films.

Set in the heart of rural England, Rudy finds her relationship with her father being tested. Stuck as a proxy parent to her younger siblings and dealing with a recent loss, she feels increasingly pushed out when her home gets opened up to a paying guest. Through a newfound friendship with a boy from Coventry, Rudy discovers fun, freedom, and autonomy, but is it at the sacrifice of unspoken family wounds? A poignant insight into love, loss, and moving on.