Full steam ahead for new Midlands short Traver's Case
A researcher is tasked with transporting a mysterious case along the banks of the River Trent. With a national crisis underway, she worries that she may not be alone.
This is the synopsis of a new short film called Traver’s Case which is getting an online release in August as part of the Shuttle Shorts Film Festival.
Shuttle Shorts is run by the Friendly Neighbourhood Cinema which is a passion project turned pop-up cinema company founded by Daniel Kearns. And their new festival will celebrate Britain’s shortest trainline.
Available to watch online from the 3rd August, Traver’s Case will be a number of films audiences can view via QR codes on the railway line itself. In addition, there will also be a screening of the film in Stourbridge later on in August (date/venue TBC).
The short was filmed entirely within the Nottinghamshire and Derby area and features an all-Midlands based cast and crew.
Written and directed by Joe Erickson-Kucukdurgut, Traver’s Case is a sci-fi/horror production and stars Ella Kucukdurgut, Nicole Driver, Bradley Moore and Lewis Moore. It has already achieved acclaimed as an official Selection at BFI Flatpack Festival 2025.
The director graduated from Nottingham Trent University and the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies and the film received praise at Flatpack Festival's "Made in the Midlands" programme.
Based in Nottingham, Joe also began his career as a stage actor when he was a teenager and eventually transitioned into writing and directing his own projects. Particularly fond of the sci-fi and horror genres, he hopes to continue telling stories that reflect the unique culture and landscapes of the East Midlands.
Find out more at Joe’s Instagram account as well as the Shuttle Short’s Instagram below:
