Stills
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Still in the running. Winner announced at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
Wrote this screenplay? Let us know to add or correct the credits or details. Writer sign-in opens with the claim email at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
Credits
Directed by
Synopsis
A struggling beauty influencer accepts a free appointment at a high-end, sustainability-obsessed beauty tech company to try their new “ethical” bio-adaptive filler - unaware the injection is a biochemical trigger engineered to convert her body into high-yield tissue for the brand’s bestselling 100% Organic Filler. Now Ella must choose: expose the truth, or fight to protect the flawless face her followers - and the algorithm - finally love. In this social-media-driven circular beauty economy, influencers don’t just endorse the brands… they’re the raw material harvested to create the products. Influencers are no longer brand ambassadors - they’re ingredients.
On the nomination
I’m blown away by this nomination. As a writer, it’s always incredible when someone sees value in what you do. For that recognition to come from the team at AFIN, a festival I’ve long respected for the films and screenplays it champions, makes it even more meaningful. I’m genuinely honoured to be part of it this year. With 'Fillers', I wanted to write a film that was fun and frightening, but also relevant to what is happening in the world today. So many people are afraid to be themselves, reshaping who they are around what they see online, without realising that true beauty begins with authenticity.
Writer's Statement
Aesthetic: Retro-futurist clinical horror - where mid-century design meets post-digital dread. A world built from symmetry, sterility, and suggestion. The visual language channels Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange by way of David Fincher’s movie Se7en: poised, hyper-controlled frames masking a rotting underbelly. Tone: Surgical detachment. Everything immaculate - lighting, wardrobe, architecture - until the imperfections start to bleed through. Faces twitch. Fluorescents hum too long. Perfection begins to sweat. Palette: Cold whites. Muted flesh tones. Surgical chrome. Occasional intrusions of deep organic crimson - the only sign of life in a world that’s forgotten what real flesh looks like. Cinematography: Locked-off symmetrical frames. Center-weighted compositions. Slow, deliberate dolly creep. Depth-of-field that isolates - not beautifies. Every shot feels observed, like an experiment underway. Lighting: Flat, diffused fluorescents. The illusion of purity masking decay. As the film descends, light temperature shifts subtly - from cold daylight LEDs to bile-green surgical tones. Typography & Design: Clean, sans-serif fonts (Helvetica Neue, Futura) with disciplined negative space. Gold or copper accents against monochrome. Composition mirrors luxury-brand advertising, twisted into unease.
What makes this one special
Writer's Biography
Adam Ethan Crow Writer
Adam Ethan Crow’s career in the entertainment industry began in radio, where he first demonstrated his storytelling prowess. His transition to television showcased his versatility as a writer, engaging audiences with compelling and dynamic narratives. However, Adam’s true creative passion emerged in feature films. His work has gained recognition through collaborations with leading industry figures such as Scott Mednick (Batman Begins, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), James M. Vernon (Evita, Hacksaw Ridge), Robert Laycock (James Bond franchise), and Denise O'Dell (Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Counsellor). These partnerships refined Adam’s storytelling craft and established his reputation as a trusted filmmaker. Adam has also produced content for top-tier studios and platforms, including 20th Century Fox, The BBC, Buena Vista, Sky TV, Amazon, and Netflix. His professional reach extends into academia, where he has collaborated with prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, MIT, and Buckinghamshire University. Adam’s work has been shown at esteemed organisations, including BAFTA and the British Society of Cinematographers. His debut feature film, Lair, achieved widespread distribution through Studiocanal, Universal Pictures, Sony, and theatrically via MGM and The Weinstein Company. Most recently, Adam wrote and directed Midnight Caller (formerly titled Warhol). The film garnered a nomination for Best UK Feature at The 31st Raindance Film Festival, sparking a three-way bidding war for distribution. Its premiere shattered the festival’s 31 year record, selling out in under two hours and prompting a venue upgrade to its largest cinema at Piccadilly Circus. Midnight Caller continued to make waves on the festival circuit, winning Best Picture at The Paris International Film Festival and The Girona Film Festival, where Adam was also awarded Best Director and for Best Screenplay. It was the closing film at California's 2024 Cinequest Film Festival and won Best Low-Budget Feature at the 2024 London Independent Film Festival. Additionally, Midnight Caller received the Special Jury Award and the Silver Award for Best Picture at The Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology. As a production manager on projects screened on major platforms like Netflix, Adam brings a deep understanding of the filmmaking process. This dual expertise - creative and logistical - positions him as a capable director who respects and leads every aspect of content creation with precision and care.
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Fillers was an official Nominee for Best Short Screenplay at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
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