A reclusive photographer's quiet fixation on a young woman curdles into something darker when she discovers the disturbing truth behind his art.
- Written & Directed by
- Tumelo Tlou
- Genre
- Psychological Thriller
- Runtime
- 34 Minutes
- Year
- 2026
A reclusive photographer named Elias encounters a young woman who reawakens something long buried deep inside him. What begins as a quiet connection soon turns disturbing. Beneath the surface of his art lies obsession — and an unsettling truth he can no longer frame or control.
Echoes Behind a Perfect Lens was born out of my deep fascination with psychologically unhinged character studies. I have always been drawn to stories that make you question your own morality — the kind where you almost sympathise with bad people, where you find yourself asking whether you'd do the same in their situation. I am interested in how far that sympathy can go, and what makes it break.
The people who brought the film from page to screen.
Direction & Writing
Cast
Steven Akamelu · Sophia Avchaleli · Lorcan Cameron · Madalina Jelihovschi · Robert O'Reilly · Jackie Sasaki · Gary Wheelan
Camera & Lighting
Production
Design, Costume & Makeup
Post & Sound
Official Selection & Rising Star nominee.
Echoes Behind a Perfect Lens was an Official Selection at the 17th Underground Cinema Film Awards, Dublin 2026, where Tumelo Tlou is nominated for the Rising Star Award.
The online release is planned for 4 December 2026. Further screening and trailer updates will be shared here.