AFTER DARK was Oscar-qualified after winning Best International Short Film at the Foyle Film Festival in 2024, cementing Forbes’ reputation as one of Scandinavia’s most exciting emerging directors. It world-premiered at Palm Springs International ShortFest (USA, 2024) and has since screened at leading festivals including Oslo Pix (Norway, 2024), Aesthetica Short Film Festival (UK, 2024), and Kerry International Film Festival (Ireland, 2024).
{Note: For this Q&A, Editor-Reviewer Gregg Morris dared to ask questions that other film reviewers didn’t, and Director Forbes unflinchingly responded, creating a great-give-and-take, resulting in a surprise for readers, patrons, visitors checking out the WORD.}
Director Iain Forbes
Can you talk us through your path to becoming a filmmaker? And what kind of stories you wish to tell and the genres you want to explore?
I’ve loved storytelling for as long as I can remember. What started as a dream of becoming a novelist was hi-jacked by a digital camera I was gifted for my confirmation at 15. Making films in my teenage years birthed in me a purpose and direction that has defined my whole life. Nothing has ever appealed more or felt more meaningful. This has led to me studying at two film schools, including the national Norwegian film school, and working freelance in the industry for quite a few years. Now I’m focusing mainly on directing and writing my own projects, which feels great.
I’ve always had a huge passion for the fantastical genres, fantasy and science-fiction, and I’ve dabbled in just about everything, ranging from war to children’s films. I’m hoping to do even more fantasy and mystery down the line.
What is AFTER DARK about? How did you decide on the title?
AFTER DARK is about Kristian. On his way home one night, he encounters a young woman in desperate need of help. He agrees to accompany her to the train station, but soon begins questioning her story.
Me and writer Andreas Lübker wanted to create a short film based on an encounter I had one night in Oslo. Getting involved always comes with a cost – a feeling of responsibility. On the other hand, if we never bother, the many mysterious stories wandering about the darkened streets will be forever unknown to us. And we will continue in our blissful ignorance.
Mia (played by Billie Barker)
The Norwegian title is “Mørkeblind,” directly translated as “Blinded by the dark”. Our thought was that Kristian struggles to see and understand the situation clearly, influenced by the night time setting. For the international title we settled on “AFTER DARK,” leaning into the film’s setting and the increase in unease that comes after dark has fallen.
I reviewed the film and thought it was superb. What has the response been like, and do you feel anything has been overlooked or misunderstood in either my review or other’s response to the film?
Thank you so much, I really enjoyed your review. It’s been very exciting to read and speak to people about the film. I feel the atmosphere and the ambiguity has been clear to many viewers, and many have started reflecting on similar experiences they’ve had. As far as misunderstood goes, some seem to be disappointed with the ending, believing it to be too open and not a closed story. But the short was always intended to be open-ended, forcing both Kristian and the audience to consider the choices made and Mia’s nature. Should he have gotten involved deeper or not? The consequences of his reticence is not knowing. The ambivalence is the whole point.
I believe the film is based on an experience when you crossed paths with a female stranger one night. If not too personal, can you elaborate a little more on that encounter?
Yes, you are correct. The film is strongly based on an encounter I had where I was unsure for quite some time if both me and the young woman in question were in danger or not. Several beats, her asking for directions and using my phone to call her mother, are exactly the same. Where it diverges is towards the ending. In the real situation she started to ask for my help to find her way back to the man she had left behind, and revealed information that made me quite certain I couldn’t help her.
We parted ways amicably after I helped her find a phone charger at a 7-11. When I returned home I received a call from her mother, wondering if I was still with her. I think this is what made the event truly stick with me, for I was left sitting in my apartment wondering if I should’ve stayed with her. Could I have made a difference in her life? Or should I have avoided her from the very start? How many similar encounters have I narrowly avoided previously? Am I a coward for not wanting to get drawn into another persons troubles?
What were the challenges that you had to overcome and surprises you had to deal with in the making of the film?
We shot at a 7-11 that was open late at night. There were quite a few characters dropping in. One man, clearly affected by some sort of substance, started undressing on the floor. I was impressed by the nonchalant attitude of the employee behind the corner. They must see and deal with all sorts of people throughout the night. Fortunately, we managed to shoot everything we needed, but it was quite distracting for the actors at times!
Kristian (played by Simen Bostad)
Are you considering making a feature film or TV series based on your short? If so, can you give me a hint with details.
No, not at the moment. My intent was to make a self-contained short story.
What’s next?
Apart from seeing AFTER DARK through its Oscar campaign, I’m developing quite a few scripts for both shorts and features. Me and Andreas Lübker (writer of AFTER DARK) have a horror short in the making, and I’m also developing a short about gaming in the early 2000s, which is an action comedy – a new genre for me. I’m hoping to shoot one of these projects next year, and start financing my first feature film!
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the WORD Editor Gregg W. Morris