Shygirl makes her screen debut in Getaway, a twisted, tender short film about sex and the strange intimacy of strangers. Welcome to the campsite, where nothing is quite as it seems.
Sexual freedom. Selfhood. Swingers.
In her first acting role, Shygirl is anything but.
With a second screening at SXSW London on Saturday, Getaway follows a heartbroken camper who stumbles into a liberating swingers’ retreat — where fresh air isn’t the only thing on offer. Set on an idyllic seaside campsite, the 12-minute short is an offbeat horror-comedy that leans into kink, cuts through shame, and finds power in the delicate, the intimate, and the slightly unhinged.
Think Luca Guadagnino’s raw eroticism meets the awkward brilliance of Skins. Stolen glances. Naked showers. They say three’s a crowd, but is it? Shygirl’s ménage à trois is a star-studded one, joined by rising names Michael Workéyè as Daniel (Black Mirror, This is Going to Hurt) and George Smale as Fred (Masters of the Air, Slow Horses).
Written by Harry Redding, directed by Aaron Kilercioglu, and produced by Milk Machine’s Francesco Loy Bell and Harry Moore, with a soundtrack by English Teacher’s Douglas Frost, Getaway is a sharp, cinematic short that makes you think: why not try it all?
Wonderland gets the lowdown on the cast’s stellar experience on the project…
Shygirl on why now felt like the right time to act:
“I’ve always loved finding new ways to tell stories, and Getaway felt like a really exciting opportunity to create something in a different environment to what I’m used to. The film explores the same themes I delve into with my music, and the team felt like such a perfect fit for me. Working on a film felt like a refreshing change; I love to push myself, and everyone was so supportive — the collaborative environment throughout the whole process was amazing to experience. Performance-wise, it was really fun to bounce off the other actors, and as EP I loved being able to oversee the project as well as be within it. It was so much fun and I loved learning from everyone on set, it’s made me excited for more.”
Michael Workéyè on what attracted him to the role:
“Harry’s writing really. It felt eerie, but totally relatable. At the centre of Daniel is a traditionalist monogamous mindset, so to plop him into an environment that’s the total opposite is hilarious. I want the audience to either squirm at his prudish nature or will him to come out of his shell and it was a beautiful challenge getting to explore that.”
Aaron Kilercioglu on why Getaway’s narrative is important:
“I wanted to make Getaway because I felt like the cultural conversation around sex and shame was stuck. We’re somehow living in a time in which everything goes, and yet young people are having less sex than we’ve had for generations. It’s like our liberal attitude to other people’s hypothetical sexual adventures has brought with it a kind of shame or disinterest in exploring our own. I was drawn to exploring this through a character like Daniel, who, having just gone through a breakup, is craving something new. Once he discovers the true nature of the campsite he’s titillated, but also ashamed, terrified of acting on his impulses.”
George Smale on why his character resonated with him:
“What drew me to Getaway was how unconventional and specific the tone was. Fred isn’t your typical character; for a while, you’re not sure if he’s the antagonist. He’s warm, disarming, and a bit ridiculous, but there’s something slightly off about him too. I was excited by the challenge of playing someone who lives so comfortably in this strange world, while still making him feel grounded. The film’s approach to identity and sexuality is subtle but charged — it doesn’t spell anything out, which makes the dynamics between characters feel much more alive. It’s rare to be part of something that holds that kind of tension.”
Words – Ella Bardsley
Photography – Oliver Bell and Lucy Lay
