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Ncuti Gatwa is reuniting with his “Doctor Who” co-star Niamh Marie Smith to executive produce her new short film “Passing Through.”
Marie Smith, who featured in the 2024 “Doctor Who” Christmas special “Joy to the World”
as Sylvia Trench, will star in the short alongside Gemma Laurie (“Shetland,” “The Long Shadow”) as well as write and direct. Becky Rossmaur, who worked in the casting department on “Doctor Who” and Russell T Davies’ “Tip Toe,” is on board as casting director.
Described as a “modern, queer take on a meet-cute,” “Passing Through” draws on the “chemistry and heart of timeless British rom-coms” and follows two strangers who “meet on a train station platform in December,” according to its synopsis. “A tender and hopeful story, the film explores grief, connection and the unexpected importance of seemingly small interactions.”
Of executive producing the film, Gatwa said: “I had the pleasure of working with Níamh on ‘Doctor Who’ and was blown away by her talent and insight. So, I’m overjoyed to be joining this project as EP and work with such fresh new talent. ‘Passing Through’ is a beautiful script about human connection, grief and taking in the small pleasures of life. It’s really simple and beautifully layered at the same time and as soon as I read it my heart was warmed and I knew I wanted to be involved.”
The “Passing Through” team is rounded out by cinematographer Sunshine Hsien Yu Niu, a BAFTA winner for her work on short “Rock, Paper, Scissors”; BAFTA- and BIFA-longlisted producer Augusta Woods (“Sister Wives,” “The Track”); and producer Sarah Boyks (“The Christophers,” “Dekho”). It marks the second short from Marie Smith, who said in a statement that she aims to “platform stories and moments previously overlooked as ‘unimportant.'” Marie Smith added: “This story is very close to my heart. I’m so grateful to be collaborating with this team of incredible creatives to bring it to life.”
“The script for ‘Passing Through’ feels so tender and sparky, and shows how two strangers can make a meaningful impact on each other in quite a fleeting space of time,” Laurie said. “I’m excited to be acting alongside Niamh on this beautiful project.”
“Passing Through” is produced by Track Films, Blank Canvas Pictures and Loinnir Pictures, with filming starting soon and a release planned for later this year.
(Pictured above, from left to right: Niamh Marie Smith, Ncuti Gatwa, Gemma Laurie.)
