Watch the 2025 shorts “A Friend of Dorothy Short Film.” A powerful, queer coming-of-age story about identity and finding your community.
🎬 A Friend of Dorothy Short Film (2025) 🌈
A Friend of Dorothy Short Film (2025) – Watch the heartfelt LGBTQ+ short film celebrating chosen family, love, and resilience. Emotionally powerful storytelling you won’t forget. “A Friend of Dorothy” is a moving 2025 British short film centered on the touching, unexpected bond that forms between an elderly widow and a teenage boy. The film masterfully explores universal themes of isolation and human connection.
Plot Overview
The story introduces us to Dorothy (portrayed by BAFTA winner Miriam Margolyes), a lonely widow whose solitude is broken by a chance event: a football, kicked by a teenager named JJ (Alistair Nwachukwu), lands in her garden. This accidental meeting sparks a profound friendship.
They discover common ground, offering each other support through personal struggles. Dorothy finds much-needed companionship in JJ, while her encouragement helps JJ to find and pursue his burgeoning passion for acting.
📋 Quick Facts
- Year: 2025 🗓️
- Runtime: 21 minutes ⏱️
- Country: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
- Language: English
- Genre: Short Comedy–Drama, LGBTQIA+ 🏳️🌈
- Director: Lee Knight (feature directorial debut) 🎥
- Status: Oscar-shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film 🏆
Watch the Shorts Trailer
🎭 Synopsis
When 17-year-old JJ’s football accidentally lands in elderly Dorothy’s garden, it kicks off an unlikely intergenerational friendship that transforms both their lives. Dorothy (a lonely widow whose body is failing but mind remains sharp) and JJ bond over their shared love of art and literature—particularly theater plays.
She introduces him to works like Matthew López’s The Inheritance, nurturing his secret passion for acting while he provides companionship and helps with household tasks. It’s a poignant story about chosen family, loneliness, and being truly seen 🥹
⭐ Cast
- Miriam Margolyes as Dorothy (BAFTA winner, absolutely delightful!) 👵✨
- Alistair Nwachukwu as JJ (breakout performance) ⚽🎭
- Stephen Fry as Dickie 🎭
- Oscar Lloyd as Scott 🎬
💖 Key Themes
- Intergenerational connection bridging age gaps 👴👦
- Queer identity & acceptance (the title itself is historic LGBTQ+ slang) 🏳️🌈
- Elderly isolation & neglect (critiques how society abandons seniors) 💔
- Art as connection (theater as a lifeline) 🎭📚
- Unexpected friendship & chosen family 🤝❤️
🏆 Festival Run & Accolades
- World Premiere: Raindance Film Festival (June 25, 2025) 🌧️
- Awards:
- Audience Award at Odense International Film Festival 🎉
- Best Drama at HollyShorts Film Festival 🏆
- Oscar: Shortlisted for 98th Academy Awards (2026) 🎬🏆
- Streaming: Now available on Disney+ in Europe (as of Jan 2026) 📺
💬 Critical Reception
Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, calling it:
- “The sweetest cake ever baked” 🍰
- “Heartwarmingly sincere” 💝
- “Had me in tears—twice!” 😭😭
- “A true masterpiece about feeling seen” 🌟
- “Miriam Margolyes is iconic as ever” 👑
Accolades and Availability: The Short Film “A Friend of Dorothy”
The critically acclaimed short film, “A Friend of Dorothy,” has garnered significant recognition, notably being shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Its success extends to film festivals, where it secured the Best Drama accolade at HollyShorts London, among other awards.
This touching story is now accessible to a wider audience, as it is available for streaming on Disney+ across the UK and Europe.
🌟 Why It Matters
The film was inspired by director Lee Knight’s real-life friendship with his late neighbor. It’s been praised for its gentle humor, emotional depth, and lack of sentimentality while tackling serious themes. Many viewers say they cried happy tears and felt deeply moved by the portrayal of how art and genuine connection can transcend age, loneliness, and societal expectations 🎭❤️
Bottom line: If you love stories about unlikely friendships, brilliant acting (especially from national treasure Miriam Margolyes!), and films that celebrate queer identity and intergenerational bonds, IMDb this 21-minute gem is essential viewing! 🎬✨