Q&A with Orion Isaacs – Passage

Films
August 21, 2025
By, Joshua Freemantle

We spoke to Orion Isaacs, the writer and director of PASSAGE about the film, the inspiration behind it, and why film festivals like Sunrise are important.

Q: What is PASSAGE about?

A: Passage follows the intimate story of a displaced father and his nine-year-old son, as they navigate harsh moorlands and seek refuge from an unforgiving wilderness.

Q: What sparked the idea for this story, and why did you want to tell it now?

A: The idea originated as an image that came to me of a parent carrying their child across a flat, rural landscape.

I returned to this image over and over, and gradually realised that this could be expanded upon as a potential film.

From here, I had some inkling that I wanted to explore the day-to-day minutiae of parenthood on the margins.

Q: What was the most rewarding – or challenging – part of making the film?

A: We didn’t have the resources for chemistry reads between our lead actors so there was an element of risk involved in the casting process.

The first time I looked into the monitor and saw Romeo Roxman Gatt and Jimmy Maslin Fong in frame, it was so clear they worked brilliantly together and had formed a true connection. It was a gratifying moment.

Q: Why do you think film festivals are important for short form filmmakers today?

A: As so many festivals are held in cinema venues, I feel this really encourages filmmakers to continue to produce work with the big screen and live audiences in mind.

Q: What does being shortlisted for Best British Short Film mean to you and your team?

A: This acknowledgement means a great deal to all of us. It tells me that the story we’re telling has resonated on some level and that’s what this is all about.

I feel especially proud to be nominated for “Best British Film” as Passage calls us to consider our country’s responsibility to provide refuge for those fleeing persecution.

Q: What is one practical tip you’d share with other emerging filmmakers?

A: Start conversations with your Director of Photography as early as possible in pre-production.

Create a rich, shared visual language with your DoP and make sure you’re on the same page with your understanding of the world you’re creating together.

Then you can go into production with a shorthand form of communication. I was extremely fortunate to have this with Benjamin Leggett on PASSAGE.