Brian Lawes is an American film director, writer, and producer. His films have played all across the world, earning multiple jury awards, with notable premieres at the Oscar® Qualifying Palm Springs International ShortFest, HollyShorts Film Festival, and Indy Shorts International Film Festival. 

Watch a Q&A with the cast and crew who talk about this special live action short film:

His latest short Lost Kings, shares a story about a boy, Zuri, searching for food, who breaks into a neighbourhood home. But when the homeowners return, he becomes trapped inside with those he’s stealing from.

The audience is immediately immersed in the main character’s world. Lost Kings, tries, and succeeds on being an immersive and a tense experience for anyone watching it.

The audience is immediately immersed in the main character’s world. Lost Kings, tries, and succeeds on being an immersive and a tense experience for anyone watching it.

The viewer, as Zuri, enters the house through a masterfully sublime sequence. The cinematography, the rhythm, and slow curiosity build up for the inevitable: the house owners return, and Zuri finding himself trapped in their house.

Dash Melrose who plays Zuri, has a powerful performance, as he carries the film in this simple but powerful plot. We are rooting for him, how could we not? In the end, he is just a child trying not to starve. Lost Kings is an emotional, appealing, and mesmerising ride. Its simplicity plays in its favor and succeeds in being what every short film should be. This important film is expertly directed by Lawes, who is certainly one to watch!

Lost Kings is an emotional, appealing, and mesmerising ride. Its simplicity plays in its favor and succeeds in being what every short film should be. This important film is expertly directed by Lawes, who is certainly one to watch!

Lost Kings, won the Jury Awards for Best U.S. Narrative Short at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, Best Short at the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Short Film Honorable Mention at the Omaha Film Festival. It was also selected by the Oscar® Qualifying Palm Springs International ShortFest, HollyShorts Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Calgary International Film Festival, Edmonton and International Film Festival.

Judy Ibelhauptaite, Just Celebrity Magazine Film Reporter