“I began making this film in 2017 as a way of processing my own experiences with alcoholism and mental illness. I wanted to explore how the isolation of addiction can distort our sense of self – and how small acts of care and presence can begin to restore it.
“SMALL HOURS was painted by hand, using oil on glass. The process of painting and wiping away each image felt like an honest reflection of recovery itself: fragile, repetitive and full of moments of loss and renewal.
“While animating almost 5,000 frames over the course of several years, I found a quiet rhythm in the act of showing up – for the work, and symbolically, for myself. Each day I made incremental progress, similar to my recovery, one day at a time.
“At its heart, SMALL HOURS is about connection. It’s a reminder that reaching out to someone – even just showing up for another person – can be a lifeline. Through this film, I hope to start a conversation about compassion, both for those we love and for ourselves.
“I am very proud to say that as of October 2025 (the month I finished making this film) I am now three years sober.”
– Oscar Wyndham Lewis
12:00, Saturday 21 March 2026
Screen 4, The Ashford Cinema
Shown as part of Short Film Programme 1
Credits
Director(s)
Oscar Wyndham Lewis
Producer(s)
Andrew Gregory
Principle Cast
Robert Bathurst
Contact
oscarwyndhamlewis.com
Meet The Artist
Oscar Wyndham Lewis is an artist, animator, writer and director based in Margate, England.
A graduate of the Royal College of Art, his animated short film THE WAVES screened at film festivals worldwide, won Best Animation at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival and was shortlisted for a BAFTA Award.
Specialising in the intricate medium of oil on glass, Wyndham Lewis has built a diverse portfolio of art, animation and motion picture projects.
With New York-based A Closer Look Inc., he served as animation director on SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED TO JOEY. The animated short film about childhood trauma and healing won multiple awards and was selected for inclusion in the PBS Learning Center, making the film accessible to every school across New York state.
Wyndham Lewis recently completed a follow-up film with A Closer Look Inc., A MEDITATION ON A SHOESTRING, which he co-directed.
