DISREMEMBER – London-Made One-Person Feature Film Sweeps Festivals

London filmmaker Matthew Simpson is making waves with his one-person feature film Disremember, which has now won Best Feature at every festival it has screened at — an extraordinary achievement for a film made entirely by one person, outside the studio system.

Most recently, Disremember received Best Narrative Feature at the 2025 Aesthetica Film Festival, a BAFTA- and BIFA-qualifying event. The win follows earlier Best Feature awards at London Breeze Film Festival and Unrestricted View Film Festival, where Simpson also picked up Best Actor.

Shot and set in Hackney, London, Disremember is a raw, psychologically immersive thriller that places the audience inside the fractured mind of its central character — an ex-military alcoholic suffering unexplained blackouts that worsen as buried trauma begins to surface.

Filmed on a zero budget over just 20 days, the 84-minute feature uses bold, expressionistic lighting, internal sound design, and subjective camerawork — including POV, Snorricam, and surveillance-style footage — to create a visceral, claustrophobic experience that feels deeply urban and unmistakably London.

London Breeze Film Festival, which champions innovation in British independent cinema, praised the film’s intensity and singular creative vision.

“Seeing it resonate so strongly with London audiences — who were both terrified and exhilarated — is incredibly satisfying. Matt has crafted a highly impressive debut feature that he should be immensely proud of.”
Sam Cullis, Festival Director, London Breeze Film Festival

At Unrestricted View Film Festival, Disremember stood out among films made with full crews and traditional budgets.

“A remarkable achievement — not only for the suspenseful storytelling, but for the sheer determination of the filmmaker.”
James Wren, Festival Director

A London Story, Made the London Way

Developed over eight years while Simpson lived and worked in London, Disremember was created alongside his acting and commercial directing career. Known to audiences from EastEnders, Masters of the Air, and Annihilation, Simpson wrote, directed, shot, edited, and performed the film entirely solo.

He storyboarded the entire film in 3D and carried out months of test shooting across London before committing to production.

“This isn’t about breaking rules,” Simpson says. “It’s about showing that in a city like London, you don’t have to wait for permission to create. With no budget and no backing, you can still make something meaningful.”