Francesco Loy Bell shares the creative process behind short film Getaway featuring Shygirl

This week, the creative director shares the creative process behind the stylised, genre-blending short and the collaborative production that brought it to life.

Getaway (Opens in a new window) is a short horror comedy that defies expectations – set in the idyllic English countryside, the film explores the unraveling of a man’s post-breakup solitude as he finds himself in a surreal, sexually charged campground far from the peaceful escape he envisioned. Directed by Aaron Kilercioglu and written by Harry Redding, the film dives into themes of shame, masculinity, and the awkward tension between desire and repression, following protagonist Daniel as he stumbles into the eccentric world of fellow campers Fred and Willow.

Premiering at SXSW London 2025, the film is both unsettling and darkly funny, blending theatrical absurdity with emotional nuance. With a cast including George Smale and Blaine Muise – better known as music artist Shygirl (Opens in a new window), who also served as executive producer – Getaway is a bold exploration of modern sexuality and the psychological minefields of dating in the digital age.

Behind the film’s distinctive tone and bold narrative is the creative studio and production company Milk Machine (Opens in a new window), known for crafting contemporary, trend-conscious content across broadcast, digital, and emerging media platforms. Co-founded by Francesco Loy Bell (Opens in a new window), who also produced Getaway alongside Harry Moore, Milk Machine brings a uniquely collaborative and forward-thinking approach to filmmaking – fusing storytelling with cutting-edge production sensibilities.

Below, we speak with Francesco Loy Bell about the making of Getaway, the inspirations behind its surreal tone, and how Milk Machine helped bring this strikingly offbeat vision to life.