FOREVER AT 3:15
Andrea R. Ciobanu
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LOGLINE
Drama Short Film
After surviving the moment he was meant to die, a man must confront a mysterious woman and the watch that binds him to the past.
SYNOPSIS
Sergiu survived the accident that should have taken his life. His watch didn't.
Frozen at 3:15, the exact moment time stood still for Sergiu, the watch becomes a constant reminder of the life he almost lost. As strange encounters with a mysterious woman dissolve the boundary between reality and the afterlife, Sergiu finds himself unable to move forward, trapped between survival and truly living.
As the stopped watch becomes the centre of Sergiu's journey, he is forced to confront death, memory and the passing of time. To escape the moment that has defined him, he must finally choose whether to remain bound to the past or embrace the uncertain beauty of life.
Forever at 3:15 is a poetic meditation on mortality, grief and second chances, exploring how accepting death can become the first step towards fully embracing life.
WRITER / DIRECTOR ARTISTIC STATEMENT
Time has always fascinated me, not as something we measure, but as something we feel. A single moment can echo through an entire lifetime, quietly shaping who we become.
Forever at 3:15 explores that idea through the story of a man whose watch stopped at the exact moment he survived an accident. The watch becomes more than an object; it is a silent witness to memory, grief and the passage of time, asking whether we can truly move forward when one moment continues to define us.
I wanted to create a film where magical realism emerges naturally from everyday life, allowing the ordinary to slowly dissolve into the extraordinary. Rather than portraying death as something terrifying, I see it as a quiet, inevitable presence, one that invites reflection, acceptance and, ultimately, a deeper appreciation of life. Through carefully composed imagery, subtle performances and an atmosphere where silence carries as much weight as dialogue, I wanted every frame to carry the emotional weight of time itself.
At its heart, Forever at 3:15 is a story about finding the courage to embrace life. It is about learning to let go without forgetting, and discovering that accepting the certainty of death is what allows us to embrace the beauty of the time we are given.
PITCH DECK
Andrea R. Ciobanu, Writer and Director.
Andrea R. Ciobanu is a Romanian writer-director based in London. Drawing on Romanian folklore, ritual, music and memory, her work blends horror and mythology to explore themes of grief, identity and belonging. A graduate of the National Film & Television School and the London Film School's MA Screenwriting programme, Andrea has written and directed award-winning short films that have screened internationally. Alongside writing and directing, she works as a costume designer for short films, feature films and commercial projects, bringing the same attention to character, symbolism and atmosphere that defines her filmmaking.
Francesco Gabriele, Producer.
Francesco is an award-winning Italian-British producer and director based in London. He is the founder of Thespian Films Ltd, where he develops and produces independent films that have screened at Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying festivals worldwide and secured international distribution. He has collaborated extensively with writer-director Andrea R. Ciobanu, producing several award-winning short films including Enchanted, Black Sunday and Immortal Reflections. Francesco is the Head of Screen and Audio at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, a member of the European Film Academy, Directors UK, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a graduate of the London Film School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Georgia Viero, Actress. The Woman.
Georgia Viero is an Italian actress known for her enigmatic screen presence and emotionally layered performances. With a background in both classical theatre and television, she brings a unique blend of elegance, intensity, and restraint to the screen. In Forever at 3:15, Georgia embodies The Woman / Death, a haunting, ethereal figure who exists between memory and oblivion. Her portrayal captures the quiet intimacy of loss, the seduction of the unknown, and the subtle power of time standing still.
Christian Vit, Actor. Sergiu.
Christian Vit is a British Italian actor and his most notable credits include Vikings: Valhalla, Game of Thrones, FBI International, FBI, Crossing Lines and others. He also appeared in over 40 episodes as Dr. Matteo Rossini on the UK's long running medical drama, Holby City. Christian speaks English, Italian, Spanish and French, and easily performs in each of these languages. In addition to his extensive training as an actor, he is also a certified sommelier for his own enjoyment and for paying tribute to his beloved grandfather, who used to be a winemaker.
Oihenart Garai, Sound Designer.
Oihenart Garai (Bilbao, 2000) is a London-based sound designer and re-recording mixer working across narrative film, episodic content and film trailers. Alongside his role as an Audio QC Technician at EIKON Group, he collaborates with independent filmmakers, creating immersive soundscapes that transcend beyond the screen. His work spans stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos, with a particular interest in building rich, detailed sound environments through original field recordings. Since graduating with an MA in Sound from Bath Spa University, Oihenart has worked primarily in horror and drama. His credits include dialogue editing on the BFI-funded short film Hindsight (2026), as well as sound design and re-recording mixing on a number of independent productions such as HIDE (2025), Hunger Beneath the Moonlight (2025) and Homecoming (2025) to name a few. He also has a background in music composition, as he composed the original score for Andrea's short film Immortal Reflections (2024), which was nominated for Best Original Score at the International Sound and Film Music Festival in Croatia in 2024. While his focus has since shifted firmly towards post-production sound, his background in music continues to shape his sense of rhythm, pacing and atmosphere. His work draws on extensive field recording and sound editing to create believable, emotionally engaging sonic worlds that support each film’s unique vision. In the current era of AI and mass produced media, Oihenart’s main focus is to seek true creative intention in every project, collecting and transforming sounds from the real world into exciting cinematic experiences.
Shane Rutherfoord-Jones, Composer.
Born in South Africa and raised in Northern Ireland, Shane Rutherfoord-Jones' background is as distinctive as his approach to music composition. With a passion for music across genres, he is equally at home writing for choir and orchestra as he is for hip hop and drum & bass. Shane studied Composition for Screen at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London before beginning his career as an assistant to acclaimed composer Lorne Balfe. He has collaborated with writer-director Andrea R. Ciobanu on the short films Enchanted and Black Sunday, and has worked as an orchestrator on major productions including Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Bad Boys for Life, His Dark Materials, 6 Underground and Widows.
Madalina Elena, MUA.
Madalina Elena is a London-based makeup artist with an international presence. Since relocating to the United Kingdom in 2014, London has been a pivotal influence in shaping her artistic journey. The city's vibrant energy and cultural diversity have inspired her unique sense of colour and style, fueling her passion for beauty and makeup artistry.
Madalina’s work is a seamless blend of technical precision and creative vision, dedicated to enhancing natural beauty and crafting transformative looks. Her artistry goes beyond aesthetics, bringing to life the individuality of her clients while weaving the magic of storytelling into every transformation.
Whether creating timeless bridal looks or avant-garde masterpieces, Madalina’s work celebrates the art of self-expression, leaving an unforgettable impression wherever her journey takes her.
After graduating from a TV, Film and Theatre Hair and Makeup course with DFMA Makeup Academy, in 2017, she was led into the industry, working in films, Tv documentaries, commercials, music videos, editorials and beauty shoots. She is also a certified make-up artist from DELAMAR Academy, in 2020, being trained in beauty and fashion makeup, casualty/special effects make-up, period hair and make-up, and character design.
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