Sci-Fi Short Film 'Benefits' | DUST | Online Premiere

The year is 2028; England is isolated, detached from the rest of world and run by a powerful few in a totalitarian state. We follow Adeel, a man in his late thirties as he collects his benefit cheque for the month. The welfare state is crumbling and as a result of public sector cuts all services are now fully automated.

"Benefits" by Edward Lomas

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More About "Benefits":
Benefits is almost ten years old but feels more relevant than ever with the rise of AI technology and growing inequality both domestically and internationally. It was always intended to be a satire with a stinging message but I think unfortunately it now resembles more of what the very poorest in our society experience every day. I hope to continue producing fictional stories that can bring light to the very real, harsh reality of how we treat the most vulnerable people in our communities.

"Benefits" Credits:
Director - Edward Lomas
Written by - Matthew Cameron, Peter Giblin, Alex Cassun
Produced by - Hannah Bush Bailey
Editor - Matteo Fadda
Director of Photography - Rajan Rayat
Production Designer - Regina Lujan
Sound Designer - C.S. Watterson
Casting - Sam Rumbelow
Sound Operator - Nathan Li
Gaffer - Ben Murray
Costume - Mihaela Popa
MUA - Jules Roman
Camera Assistant - Kato Murphy
Set Build - Sarah Sanderson, Rasika Ranade
Animator - Basil Baradaran
Compositor - Dominik Platen
Unit Stills - Derek Lomas
Production Partner - Kent Film Projects
Post Production - Molinaire Hoxton
Supervising Producer - Jo Nolan
Production Partner Co-ordinator - Barbara Welch
Colourist - Steve Owen
Dubbing Mixer - Raj Vivekananthan
Online Editor - Dan Bater
Executive Producer - Lisa Marie Russo
Production Manager - Nina Somers

Cast -
Asheq Akhtar
Emma Peadon
Nicholas A. Newman
Mia Lacostena
Dan Kendall

#DUST #scifi #shortfilm

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[edwardlomas]

Benefits is approaching it's ten year anniversary and was written and produced back in 2014 as a social horror-comedy / dystopian vision but feels more relevant everyday. Thanks for checking it out! Any questions are welcome!

[drfreddave]

This is getting closer and closer to reality

[Arnold-lk]

And as a senior citizen currently retired, who is also a long-term science fiction fan. This is exactly where we are heading within the next 10 years at best the dumbest thing they ever did was to automate customer service what we have now does no one any type of benefit., and it's about to get worse. AI doesn't solve everything and the sooner we realize it the better

[jomujj]

Fuck, wonderful film. It really shows how people who have social welfare of any kind are constantly criminalized and monitored. Magnificent job!

[AcapulKero]

That was great! Thanks DUST and creator of this short. Have a great week!

[mrheisemberg]

A.I says (forgot your password? enter the password you forgot and we will give you a new password to send your resume ...) the new digital age is a nightmare nice sci-fi short film but realistic

[FritzLewisFilms]

This is sci-fi at its best—sharp, relevant, and unsettlingly real. The performances were fantastic, and the film’s atmosphere really captured the bleakness of a crumbling system. It’s amazing (and terrifying) how a film made nearly a decade ago still feels so timely. Hats off to everyone involved!

[Elderly-Marian-in-UK]

Oh how true this is. I hate robotic AI assistance. Bring back humans please.

[nancyharper]

The future? 🤔 No no, this is now, this is 15 years ago. This is no good, but the oligarchy knows this.... and.. they don't care! Great little short, folks, it's reality!! ✌️☺️

[b.i.g.g.u.s]

Damn, this makes I, Daniel Blake look like a day trip to the seaside.

[asheqakhtar]

Ten years! Wow. That was a fun day, Edward. Hope you’re well, buddy. x

[sugadaddy]

Nice
This needs to become a pilot for a tv show.

[stevejones]

Wow seems like nowadays rather than 10 years ago this was released 😮

[WilliamKinsey-dxdn]

I had my doubts when it was only 3 minutes but you knocked it out of the park!

[jazzew]

This is one I hadn't seen before, but reminds me of another short with a guy looking for another job in an equally depressing circumstance. I like this one, freaks me out! I liked the other one too, gonna search for it.

[tomgarner]

This scenario isn't sci-fi anymore.

[Fosten]

So short yet so terrifying and interesting at the same time!
Good short!

[lightlegion_]

Hi! You’re really creating something remarkable.

[jaspertickler]

wow! a scarily plausible reality, if not close to reality now. An interesting good short guys.

[YorkshireMannowlivinginWal-yn]

Great film and clearly will be adopted by the WEF.