Manticore Films | Can I Help?

An operating system tries to help a successful and overworked architect get over the break up of his family.

Can I Help? is a proof-of-concept short film, which was completed in 2021 and screened at many festivals internationally winning several nominations and awards including Best UK Short at the BIFA Qualifying North East International Film Festival, Best First Time Filmmaker at the cutting edge Ignite Film Festival and Best Actor at the BAFTA Qualifying British Urban Film Festival.

The film is a sci-fi drama set in London in the near future and explores themes of mental health, fatherhood and our relationship with technology. It was written, directed and produced by Rupert Ratcliffe – his debut film – and stars Nicholas Pinnock and Mark Strong.

CAN I HELP? is an elevated genre film – a sci-fi human drama with a recovery story at its core – based on a highly successful proof of concept short, exploring themes of mental health, fatherhood and our relationship with technology.

The film is set in the near future centres on a highly successful, creative and overworked architect (Daniel), who is fighting to save himself from severe depression, after the breakup of his family, with the help of his trusty, affable AI (Walter).

The feature length version – written and to be directed by Rupert Ratcliffe with Nicholas Pinnock returning to play Daniel – broadens out the world and delves into the main characters, the source of the protagonist’s depression and the root cause of his negative behavioural patterns.

Our team is largely in place and we are seeking investment to start principal photography in 2024.

Please contact us for more information.