Lone

Written and Directed by Emma-Jane Heaton

A man wishes he never escaped the city for the weekend when he encounters a beast in the dark. Will he get away, or will he embrace the wild?

"Lone began with the wolf myths popular culture has got wrong — the 'alpha male' that has become central to toxic masculinity but has long been disproved, the 'lone wolf' archetype, when in reality wolves live in packs. The man in this film is miles from any toxic ideal of the alpha. The woman starts as the lone wolf the myth promises. What they both actually need is meaningful connection — their pack, each other.

"I spent a decade in the outdoor pursuits industry, taking people climbing and into the mountains. The man is drawn from the kind, intelligent people I worked with who lived successful city lives but came to the wild to find something they couldn't name. The woman is more personal to me — capable, toughened, having learned that it's easier to do things alone. Strong, independent women who need to learn that real connection doesn't take their independence is one of the core stories I keep returning to."

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