Daft
about the
dark stuff

Independent film from the North East of England

The slate

Being written, shot or cut right now.

All films
  • Never Heard of It2026

    In production The journey of the small rare disease charity Niemann-Pick UK, in a way you have likely never seen before.

  • Her Last Judgement2026

    In post The debut short of writer/director Chantelle Taggart: a surreal fusion of dark comedy, drama and theatre.

  • Searching2026

    In post A desperate parent searches for answers, and finds themselves lost in a surreal maze of uncertainty, misdiagnosis and isolation.

  • Just Another Drive2026

    In development A darkly daft comedy short, in development.

Selected films

Short film

Hadid and I2025

A dramedy following recently bereaved Rich Marwood as he contends with the struggles of life without his beloved wife.

Short film

The North Beasts2024

A man struggling with his 30s has his bubble popped by an incompetent criminal duo convinced he is somebody else entirely.

Awareness film

A Rare Find2023

A comedy short with a difference, raising awareness of newborn screening and the UK heel prick test.

Animation

Invisible Manners2021

An animated short about invisible conditions and the experiences of those affected, with Billy Boyd, Isy Suttie and Weruche Opia.

In post

Her Last Judgement2026

The debut short of writer/director Chantelle Taggart: a surreal fusion of dark comedy, drama and theatre.

In post

Searching2026

A desperate parent searches for answers, and finds themselves lost in a surreal maze of uncertainty, misdiagnosis and isolation.

  • WonRoad to HomeLAMPA Film Festival2025
  • WonAudience Choice AwardSunderland Shorts Film Festival2025
  • WonGoldSmiley Charity Film Awards2024
  • WonBest ComedyTees Valley International Film Festival2024
  • WonDistinction AwardThree Acts of Goodness Micro Film Festival2024
  • WonBest First-Time DirectorBest Istanbul Film Festival2022
  • WonBest Inspirational FilmFlorence Film Awards2022

Next screening

All dates
  • Women X Film Festival 2026

    Her Last Judgement

    World premiere of Her Last Judgement. BAFTA and BIFA qualifying. Exact date and venue to be confirmed by the festival.

About

A studio of people who keep turning up

Apprentice Films is the studio of writer, director and actor John Lee Taggart, working out of the North East of England.

The work runs from dark comedy to animation to awareness films made with rare disease charities, and it is made by the same small group of North East filmmakers turning up for each other, film after film.



Made with

  • Niemann-Pick UK
  • INPDA - International Niemann-Pick Disease Alliance
  • UK LSD Collaborative
  • Niemann-Pick Selbsthilfegruppe Deutschland
  • The Newborn Screening Collaborative
  • Media Borne
  • Newcastle Film Club