Tense. Visceral. Gripping. Louisa Connelly-Burnham’s short film is one not to be missed. From the director of the award-winning, Sister Wives (2024), starring BAFTA-winner, Mia McKenna-Bruce, comes Louisa Connolly-Burnham’s latest short film in the darkly twisted, The Intimacy Coordinator (2026). She writes, directs, and leads the cast as the ultimate triple threat filmmaker to look out for. The film follows Kate played by Louisa Connolly-Burnham who works as an intimacy coordinator. But she has a dark secret – she’s also highly devoted to sex. But when her professional role blends with her personal life, lines become blurred and who she really is starts to unravel. Although, it’s certainly an interesting take as we don’t tend to see films from the intimacy coordinator’s perspective. It’s a role that’s integral in the film industry but it’s not nearly spoken about enough.
Tapping into the rich and hidden inner world of an intimacy coordinator, this short film will definitely make you never see the role the same way again. Louisa Connolly-Burnham cleverly blends thriller elements with dark-comedy and a little horror too. There’s a certain awkwardness in the air between Kate and everyone she interacts with. This creates a deeply unnerving, unsettlingly, and unnatural atmosphere which seems to follow Kate wherever she goes. But to capture a full story under a 20-minute runtime is no easy feat.
Delving Into Kate’s Mind
Shot in a raw and gritty style aided the story well and made it feel very real. Louisa Connolly-Burnham’s brilliantly tense performance throughout makes you feel uneasy as we realise this story could actually happen in real-life. Perfect casting shows the vulnerable actors on set. Max and Ella, played by Kieron Moore and Sophie Simnett try to hide their disdain for Kate’s further disturbing and deplorable actions. As we delve deeper into Kate’s mind, we discover her deep, insatiable appetite for not only physical touch and connection but her psychology too. As we question, what makes her so addictive? Do her actions ultimately stem from a deep feeling of loneliness?
There’s a beautiful shot of Kate hugging herself (arguably the best shot in the film) as she cries alone on the bed, almost feeling sorry for herself. She’s reaching out but those closest to her, like her mother aren’t too keen to help her. But ironically, it’s the strangers in her recovery group that care more. Her ‘casual’ on-and-off, rather persuasive ‘relationship’ with Nigel, played brilliantly by Alexander Arnold (Fuze, 2026), adds a light-hearted comic-relief to the story and his scenes received plenty of laughs at London’s exclusive screening. It does spark debate on abusing trust in an intimate film production role.
The Dangers Reach Far Beyond the Film Set
Someone who is the first port of call for the actors involving intimate scenes, and how they abuse their power is extremely relevant and rather disheartening for those working in the industry today. The characters feel very real and how they respond to Kate’s odd requests adds an extra layer of nuanced awkwardness. There’s such an excellent tone running consistently throughout which is so powerful straight from the opening scene. Whenever the term ‘intimacy coordinator’ comes to mind, we immediately think of recent Hollywood stories. Take the Oscar-winning actress, Mikey Madison who famously chose against having an intimacy coordinator on the set of Anora (2024). She received backlash on her decision. Surprisingly there’s no mandatory ‘written in’ rule that all sets must include this role.
Despite this, we see the inevitable dangers that come with the job as Kate’s mental health spirals as she becomes further addictive and obsessed not only over her relationships or her ‘one-night stands’ but over control on set too. Arguably, she holds more control on set then over her own life. And that’s what makes the premise behind this film so great. The main question posed here is – what happens when the person on set who actors place their upmost deepest trust into then misuses this power to control and manipulate them? But as Kate’s story tells, the dangers reach far beyond the film set.
A Relatable & Universal Story
Another excellent moment sees Kate’s desperate need to be loved, seen, and validated. There’s a quick montage sequence which cuts between Kate’s one-night stands – a reel of different people. Yet the stark contrast with the next scene – Kate alone in bed shows her inner world. Her thought process is no doubt twisted from her hunger, greed, and insatiable appetite to fulfil her sex addiction, whilst feeling completely emotionally empty.
At times we are led to feel empathetic for her need to be loved, particularly with her distant mother. Yet other times, we feel she brings all the trouble into her life upon herself. Her relationship with fellow sex addiction anonymous attendee, Nigel reveals her rather toxic mentality. Everyone she crosses paths with seems to become emotionally vulnerable because of her interference. On set she creeps out Max and Ella, and how they look at her is never the same again once they lose that close trust.
Louisa Connolly-Burnham writes, directs, and acts an excellent anti-hero in Kate. In just 20-minutes, The Intimacy Coordinator (2026) makes you feel everything from frustrated to empathetic and horrified with Kate as she misuses her power in such an important and often over-looked role in the film industry. Of course, such a misuse of power also relates to other sectors and industries. This makes the themes in this short film even more relatable and universal. Anyone can experience this no matter what role or industry you work in. As this film shows – power can always be manipulated. One element Louisa Connolly-Burnham’s latest film will surely achieve is to get you talking.
The Intimacy Coordinator (2026) is one of the best short films I’ve watched.
Rating: 4 ½ Stars
