FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

IFTA AWARDS 2026

I Hope We Can Still Be Friends

Two strangers awake to discover they have been imprisoned in a box against their will. To win their freedom, they must rely on each other to put the pieces together. But as their captivity wears on and madness sets in, it becomes clear neither is as they seem. Are they friends, foes... or something else entirely?

Director: Aisha Tyler
Writer: Emmett Hughes, Aisha Tyler
Producers: Emmett Hughes, Aisha Tyler, Jordan Lee McGrath

Filmmaker Q&A

Q: What was the genesis of this film, and how did it evolve over the course of development to production and completion?

Aisha Tyler (Director): “The concept started with lead actor and co-writer Emmett Hughes, who pitched the idea of a highly contained thriller that took place almost entirely underground. The idea was to create an environment that was mysterious — not just to the characters but to the audience as well — to build a puzzle that was solved slowly over the film by both the players and the viewers. It went through many different iterations before landing on the idea of extreme isolation as a crucible for self-examination. The film uses the intense framework of two people speaking to themselves as much as each other — taking moral stock of their lives and the damage they have done to others. The essence of the story is that we lie about who we are, not just to others, but perhaps most intensely to ourselves.”

Q: What did you feel was the most fulfilling element of working on this film? 

Aisha: “This was an incredibly demanding shoot for the actors. We shot the movie very quickly over eleven high-intensity days in January 2025, in the middle of that massive cold snap and storm that resulted in power going out in much of the West of reland. They were in these freezing, uninsulated boxes, doing very emotionally intense work for long hours. And they were the only two players in the film, so there was no rest for the weary! They performed with incredible poise. The most fulfilling element was watching them deliver scenes of deep emotional honesty day after day while sitting on a freezing sound stage in very little clothing. We had a small but dedicated and brilliant crew, always in high spirits and ready to pitch in. Everyone really came together to create something extraordinary.”

Q: To what extent was your on-screen talent vital to the success of the film?      

Aisha: The on-screen talent here was everything. This is a taut and demanding two-hander in which emotion, intensity, and subtext drive every beat of the story The entire film hung on their commitment, vulnerability and bravery. If Caroline and Emmett didn’t give their all to each other, to themselves, and to this film, it absolutely would not have worked. I marveled every day at how fully they surrendered to the emotional rollercoaster of this story. They really left everything they had in those claustrophobic, freezing boxes. It was a delight to watch. We were very happy to have a few hot whiskeys at the end of it all!
 

Q: What does it mean to have your work acknowledged by your peers in the Irish film community and showcased at the IFTA Awards?

Aisha: “Being showcased for IFTA consideration is a thrill for our entire team, and I am especially excited for our cast and crew. Filmmaking is an incredibly challenging undertaking. Independent filmmaking requires incredible stamina, drive, camaraderie and almost militaristic commitment amongst the crew. They look to the director for leadership, and for the assurance that their hard work will result in something everyone can be proud of. It’s an honor to have that kind of trust placed in you, and it is an absolute joy when you get to celebrate the hard work of the brilliant Irish creative team that made this movie possible. I am very grateful to be able to work with these talented artisans and to show the world what they have accomplished. I really hope people enjoy the dreamlike, beguiling and ultimately revelatory puzzlebox ride that is I HOPE WE CAN STILL BE FRIENDS.”