UK Filmmaker Matthew Simpson’s Solo-Created Feature Disremember Wins Best Feature at Every Festival entered Ahead of US Premiere at Cinequest

Matthew Simpson’s one-person feature film Disremember continues its remarkable festival journey, pushing the boundaries of independent cinema as a film written, directed, produced, performed and crafted entirely by a single filmmaker. Following a run of major festival wins, the UK-made psychological thriller will make its US debut on 15th and 18th March at the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival in California.
A landmark achievement in truly independent filmmaking, Disremember has now won Best Feature at every festival it has screened at. Most recently, the film received Best Narrative Feature at the Aesthetica Film Festival, a BAFTA- and BIFA-qualifying event. The award follows earlier Best Feature wins at the London Breeze Film Festival and Unrestricted View Film Festival, where Simpson also received Best Actor.

These accolades establish Disremember as a multi-award-winning independent feature and a bold example of what can be achieved outside traditional production models.

The prestigious Aesthetica Film Festival celebrates innovative storytelling from around the world. This year’s judging panel included Jim Campbell of Ridley Scott Associates and Lola Oliyide of Neal Street Productions. Disremember impressed the jury with its ambition, psychological intensity, and its unique production model as a fully solo-made feature.

London Breeze Film Festival, known for championing innovation in British independent cinema, recognised Disremember for its intense storytelling and singular creative vision.

“For me as Breeze Film Festival Director, seeing it resonate so well with our 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. A worthy winner.”

Sam Cullis, Festival Director, London Breeze Film Festival

At the Unrestricted View Film Festival awards ceremony, Disremember stood out among films with full crews and traditional budgets, earning two of the festival’s top honours.

“Disremember is a remarkable achievement. Not only for the fantastic, suspenseful storytelling but also for the sheer, bloody-minded determination of the filmmaker. Award-winning and rightly so.”

James Wren, Festival Director, Unrestricted View Film Festival

Disremember is a psychological thriller about an ex-military alcoholic who begins experiencing unexplained blackouts. The closer he gets to understanding why, the more they intensify, until he realises they are being triggered by a trauma his mind is fighting to forget.

Shot in Hackney, London, on a zero budget over just 20 days, the 84-minute feature immerses the viewer in Rob’s fragmented psyche through internal sound design, bold expressionistic lighting, and subjective camerawork, including POV, Snorricam, and surveillance-style footage. The result is a raw and visceral cinematic experience that is difficult to believe was created entirely by one person.

Simpson, known for acting roles in Masters of the Air, Annihilation, and EastEnders, developed the film over eight years while working as an actor and commercial director. Although experienced in acting, directing, and editing, Disremember marked his first time writing a feature screenplay, operating a camera, recording and mixing sound, and handling every department solo.

He storyboarded the entire film in 3D and conducted months of test shooting in preparation for what he describes as a gruelling solo shoot.

“Creating a solo feature is a completely different way of filmmaking,” Simpson says. “It is relentless. There is no downtime, and wearing every hat comes down to good time management and staying motivated. I didn’t need to be an expert in every field, just to know enough to execute the story the way I envisioned it.”

Simpson made Disremember to challenge perceptions of what solo filmmaking can achieve, in the hope of inspiring others to do the same.

“This isn’t about breaking rules,” he adds. “It’s about showing people that you don’t have to wait for permission to create. With no budget and no help, you can still bring a story to life.”