About
Shona Auerbach is a British film director. She began her career as a stills photographer and then moved into film, making her short film Seven at the Polish National Film School where she completed her MA.
Her debut feature film, Dear Frankie, was backed by Pathé and then picked up by Miramax. It was shown at numerous film festivals including Tribeca, Toronto and Un Certain Regard, Cannes where it received a standing ovation. Shona was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer and the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Director. Dear Frankie won numerous awards and Shona was chosen as a Breakthrough Brit.
In the years following Shona directed many commercials for an array of clients such as Mastercard and NSPCC, whilst bringing up her children. She also embarked on making a truly independent labour of love feature film called Rudy, which was set in Coventry and Warwickshire about a girl dealing with the loss of her mother. Rudy has been several years in the making and since being completed it has been doing the independent film festival circuit, winning several awards including Best Film at Birmingham International Film Festival and Best Film at City of Angels Film Festival, LA.
Currently Shona is working on several new projects, one of which is The Weight of Water, an adaptation of the book by Sarah Crossan. This has had development funding from BFI Young Content Fund and the Production team are hoping to go into Production summer 2026.
Film
RUDY Feature Film 108 mins
Set in the heart of rural England, Rudy finds her relationship with her father being tested. Stuck as a proxy parent to her younger siblings and dealing with a recent loss, she feels increasingly pushed out when her home gets opened up to a paying guest. Through a newfound friendship with a boy from Coventry, she discovers fun, freedom and autonomy, but is it at the sacrifice of unspoken family wounds?
RUDY is a poignant insight into love, loss and moving on.
Winner Best Feature Film, Birmingham Film Festival.
CAST
Esther McCormick Darren Day Kanune Morrissey
Rustie Lee Sylvia Lorden
Rudy Trailer
DEAR FRANKIE Feature Film 104 mins.
Nine year-old Frankie and his single mum Lizzie have been on the move ever since Frankie can remember, most recently arriving in a seaside Scottish town. Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they've run away from his father, Lizzie has invented a story that he is away at sea on the HMS Accra. Every few weeks, Lizzie writes to Frankie a make-believe letter from his father, telling of his adventures in exotic lands.
As Frankie tracks the ship's progress around the globe, he discovers that it is due to dock in his hometown. With the real HMS Accra arriving in only a fortnight, Lizzie must choose between telling Frankie the truth or finding the perfect stranger to play Frankie's father for just one day.
Pathe/Miramax
CAST
Gerard Butler Emily Mortimer Jack McElhone
Mary Riggins Sharon Small
SEVEN Short Film 18 mins.
Inspired by Shakespeare's 'Seven ages of man', the film describes a woman's life as she relives the seven roles she has played in her lifetime. Set in rural Poland, Seven is poetically told, gently capturing each reflective moment.
Winner Best Short Film and Best Student Film at British Short Film Festival.
CAST
Teresa Borowczyk Paula Czajka Magda Glowczynska
Seven
Commercials
