“OK/NOTOK” by Pardeep Sahota
In a near-future city in the UK, we follow Loretta and Zane, a working-class couple whose unconventional domestic relationship gradually unravels under mounting pressures. With a world outside experiencing turmoil on the brink of social collapse, Loretta finds security in the confines of her flat, as she grapples with feelings of loneliness, anxiety and the relentless bombardment of adverts. With the arrival of Zane, their connection oscillates between intimacy, mistrust and manipulation. Together, they become a reflection of a world that is blurring the lines between love and control.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“OK/NOTOK was born out of concern for the increasing loneliness epidemic, alongside the rise of AI, which is exacerbating the problem at an exponential rate. Stories of this ilk have been told before, but I wanted to approach it from a perspective rarely seen in sci-fi: that of a working-class British Asian woman. It’s stylistically bold in its simplicity, yet enriched with detail (rewarding multiple viewings) and emotionally engaging characters that invite you to lean forward.
The film depicts a future that could be just years away, but also speaks directly to the state of our world today. This is a world where there is an increasing reliance on technology at the expense of human connection, where everything is becoming commodified, like love and even politeness. In making it, the film revealed to me what it was really about: tolerance. A story about who we shut out and, through understanding, who we accept into our lives.
I hope it sparks a conversation about where we are headed. The film was made with a deep love of cinema and the joy of expressing ideas in unconventional ways.
OK/NOTOK has screened at 40+ festivals (premiering at Leeds International Film Festival 2024, where it was nominated for Best UK Short) and has won multiple jury awards at BIFA-accredited festivals, including Best UK Short at TweetFest 2025, Best Screenplay at Brighton International Film Festival 2025, and Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy at Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 2025. Alongside festival support, the film has attracted praise from notable industry figures. Academy Award-winning cinematographer Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood, Boogie Nights) called the film “Fantastic…Impressive…wonderfully inventive and emotionally compelling storytelling,” while Alex Cox, writer/director (Repo Man, Sid & Nancy), described it as “excellent interior urban alienation.”
-Pardeep Sahota
CREDITS
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY PARDEEP SAHOTA
PRODUCED BY LUKE GRECH & PARDEEP SAHOTA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER// LORINE PLAGNOL
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS// ADHAM HUNT & IAN RODERICK GRAY
CAST
Loretta// BAIRAVI MANOHARAN
Zane// JAY TAYLOR
Tech Support Man// VIRAJ JUNEJA
Jarvis// MARLON THOMAS
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY// LINDA WU
SOUND DESIGN AND RE-RECORDING MIXER// EDWIN MATTHEWS
PRODUCTION DESIGNER// ELLE MIKKOLA
CASTING DIRECTOR// STEVEE DAVIES
1st ASSISTANT DIRECTOR// DANIEL PACHALSKI
2nd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR// JAMIE JOHNSTONE
COSTUME DESIGNER// AMANDINE GARCIA
HAIR AND MAKE UP DESIGNER// RUBY LONSDALE
EDITOR// AMANDA V. REINES
GAFFER// MARK LANE
1st ASSISTANT CAMERA// JOSH BAYLIS
2nd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR// GABRIELLE SCOBIE
ELECTRICIAN// GEORGE TSAMIS & PETE MUSGRAVE
SOUND RECORDIST// TOM BLAWAT
COLOURIST// NATHANIEL SKEELS
ART DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT// ELI AGRUP
SET CARPENTER// JAMES DODDS
SET DECORATOR// CLEMENTE LOHR
VFX SUPERVISOR// MUGSY
TITLE DESIGNER// MICHAEL O’SULLIVAN
STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER// MARLON THOMAS
ADDITIONAL VOICES
JERVIS AMFO-GYAMERA
LUCY SAHOTA
DANIEL CROSSAN
MIKE SUMPTER
RADOSLAW CHARUN
MICHAEL HURN
MICHAEL WRIGHT
SPECIAL THANKS
NARINDER JACKSON
TARJ SAHOTA
NURIA BUIL BRUNA
JULIAN KEMP
TIDZA KARUP
TOBY ELWES
PETER VAUGHN
MATTHEW JAMES WILKINSON
TOMMY BOULDING
JACK GUTTMANN
MARC BOOTHE
EMMANUELLE ROTURIER
HARINDER SAHOTA
Send Us Your Films
Hey filmmakers! Have a project of your own you’d like us to check out?