PETROL HEAD

Written by PATRICK SWAIN

Award-winning company Caged Bird present a film about depression, living in a small town, and... cars? This love letter to the North of England sees a young man pushed to make the unsafe choice for the first time in his life - by joining a high-octane race on the country roads. This is a story about growing through mental illness, getting back in the driver's seat, and carrying on.

The North of England is the backdrop for 'PETROL HEAD'. Specifically, a small country town where you need a car to have any freedom at all.

Then there’s JAKE. He’s moved back here after finishing studying, he’s gone through a breakup, his family recently suffered a tragedy, and he can’t drive.

His world has just gotten a lot smaller, and it has sent his mental health into serious decline. Now he lives with his Dad again, who can’t begin to understand why he's hurting. Jake is in fight or flight, torn between hiding his struggle from his dad and feeling like his head is about to burst into flames.

Until he reconnects with YAS, an old friend from school who has spent years immersing herself in a group of petrolheads. She thinks this community can help pull him out of his depression, but there’s a catch - it means getting him to join a very high-stakes racing event.

In other words, he has to make an unsafe choice.

Directors Jasper Frost & Patrick Swain

Director of Photography Miguel Carmenes

Action Cinematographer Jim Topliss

1st Assistant Director Thomas Elliott Griffiths

Production Design Riot Rogers

Script Supervisor Cristina Sebastian

Gaffer Jakub Paczos

Sound Recordist Bogdan Mecea

3rd Assistant Director Catriona Dick

1st Assistant Camera/Focus Puller Joel Boyle

2nd Assistant Camera/DIT Harry Stokoe

On-Set Producer Neal McAndrew