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Teen's Final Night: Friendship, Fun, and Facing Fate
11 Aug
Summary
- Film follows Frankie's impulsive hospice escape with dying friend.
- Friendship and masculinity themes explored through dark humor.
- Based on director's personal experiences with losing a friend.
The State of Us, a new British independent film by directors Ollie Gardner and Jake Harvey, is set to premiere in competition at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Friday, August 14, 2026. Starring Samuel Bottomley as Frankie and Callum Scott Howells as Taylor, the movie depicts Frankie's desperate attempt to give his terminally ill best friend one final night of freedom and debauchery outside of hospice care.
The film draws inspiration from Harvey's own experiences, particularly the loss of his childhood friend Jake Andrews, who died of cancer at 18. Directors Harvey and Gardner aim to use the narrative to explore themes of masculinity and the deep bonds of male friendship, hoping young men will see themselves reflected in the characters' blend of humor and genuine emotion. Harvey noted they intentionally incorporated accessible dark humor, moving away from a purely arthouse approach to reach a wider audience in the Scottish capital.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival, running from August 14-21, 2026, is considered by its director to have its strongest competition slate since its recent reboot. The festival commences with Louis Paxton's film, The Incomer.
