Forced to flee the place you call home is a devastating reality for millions, separated from those you love the most, and faced with the prospect of survival a traumatic circumstance daily shaping how the world moves. Marking their HollyShorts Festival debut this August, writer-director duo Salvatore Scarpa and Max Burgoyne-Moore present live action short Largo, the story of a young Syrian refugee seeking reconnection with family. Set to take to the Oscar Qualifying film circuit, Salvatore and Max tell us more about the film’s pertinent topic, crafting the film and developing an outreach program with displaced refugees
Hi Salvatore and Max, your short film Largo will play at this year’s Hollyshorts Festival between the 7th and 17th August. How are you both feeling?
Excited! It’s very cool that our first LA premiere will be at the iconic Chinese Theatres Cinema. We’re really grateful to have been selected, as it’s really stiff competition to get in. We can’t wait to get out to LA, show the film, and meet some fellow filmmakers.
Largo is told entirely from a child’s perspective, following a young Syrian refugee who sets out to build a boat and sail back home in search of his missing parents. What inspired you both to explore this narrative further?
With the refugee crisis in Europe, the media narrative has just been fear-mongering headlines and dehumanising statistics. It’s really numbed or calloused people in the UK. We wanted to tell a story that would reawaken their empathy and remind them of the humanity behind the headlines. A child’s POV is one that everyone can relate to and empathise with, even if you don’t have lived experience of the subject matter. It puts you in his shoes. It helps the audience to feel responsible for what happens to Musa, and all refugees by extension.
Your both the founders of film production company ‘Studio Goodluck’ – with your latest project being Largo and you have feature film and TV pilot in development. How do you both decide what projects to work on?
There’s a huge variety of projects in our proverbial desk drawer, we’d love to make all of them, but it’s really a case of getting them out of the drawer and focusing your energy on them when an opportunity presents itself. For example, we had a version of Largo in the desk drawer for almost 5 years before we met Slick Films, then their interest in the project suddenly got the ball rolling.
The film is produced by actor/producer Rachid Sabitri and Film London New talent alumnus Charles Meunier, executive produced by Chris Overton and Rebecca Harris-Turner, Mustapha Wehbi and Tony Schlesinger, with support from the charities ‘Good Chance Theatre’ and ‘Refugee Council’. Cinematography by DOP Rick Joaquim, editing by Mohamed El Monasterly, compositions by Stuart Hancock and stunts co-ordinated by Roy Taylor. How have you all worked together to realise the film?
We couldn’t have made a project of this scale, (we call it a BIG short film) without the help of all those people. Our producers, Rachid and Charles, worked overtime to take care of all the logistics, planning, finances, essential stuff, so that we could focus on the creative aspects of the project. They also spearheaded the apprenticeship program for displaced creatives and the educational program, developing partnerships with the charities you mentioned to help us take the film beyond the usual festivals and awards circuit. We always wanted the film to have a real, tangible impact and the whole team has made that possible. The Exec producers went above and beyond to facilitate and support us as writer-directors and the project as a whole.
Alongside producing the film, the team launched an apprenticeship program for displaced creatives in collaboration with Good Chance Theatre, as well as developing an outreach initiative conducting creative workshops at schools aiming to spark further discussion. What have you learned/taken away from creating the film and the outreach conducted?
With the schools outreach program, we found the kids were aware of the subject matter but a bit overwhelmed and confused by it. But that had some really insightful responses to the film. They’re naturally empathetic and open to different points of view, which makes stories and films a great entry point into difficult conversations with them. With the displaced creatives program, we had people in every department on the production who had lived experience with the subject matter. Besides being a lovely group of people to work with, they made sure we were telling the story authentically, and it also encouraged everyone else on set to really consider the subject matter and work in a respectful and welcoming manner. We’d love for both of these programs to become the norm for any and all films about important and sensitive issues.
What can viewers expect from the film?
It’s a bittersweet story about home, family, identity, and grief. But it’s not just a drama, it’s also got a sense of adventure and imagination. AND we’ve got a phenomenal child actor, Zack Elsokari, who will break their hearts and amaze them.
What would you like for viewers to take away from the film?
Hopefully people come away from the film with a renewed feeling of empathy and responsibility for other people. We want people to recognise how much we all have in common, not focus on our differences.
Interview by Lucy Basaba.
Largo will play as part of this year’s Hollyshorts Festival between Thursday 7th until Sunday 17th August 2025. To find out more about the film, visit here…
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