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
Selected for Underground Cinema.
Echoes Behind a Perfect Lens is part of Underground Cinema’s online showcase on 11–13 September 2026. Access is through the organiser’s screening room and requires a free membership.
Visit the screening room ↗ · Membership information ↗
The wider online release is planned for 4 December 2026. Further screening and trailer updates will be shared here.