Experience “Familiar,” the tense new drama short film by Marco Novoa / Théodore Hugonnier (2024) watch, discover, see a haunting story of family. Beneath the surface of the familiar, a devastating secret waits. Watch now.
🕯️ Familiar (2024) — Drama Short Film by Marco Novoa / Théodore Hugonnier
Steve is rejected and expelled by his parents because of his homosexuality. Meanwhile, Caroline is grappling with the grief of her lost motherhood as she travels with Youri on tour. Through a twist of fate, these two lives—one marked by death and the other by a new beginning—are destined to intersect. “Familiar” claimed the 2025 Vimeo Staff Pick Award at SXSW, an honor that merges a festival prize with a Vimeo Staff Pick.
Some encounters feel like déjà vu, others like destiny. Familiar, directed by Théodore Hugonnier / Marco Novoa, is a short drama that explores the uncanny space between recognition and estrangement. It’s a film about identity, longing, and the strange comfort of what feels known but isn’t.
🧭 Overview
- Genre: Drama / Mystery 🎭
- Director & Writer: Marco Novoa, Théodore Hugonnier 🎬✍️
- Runtime: ~20 minutes ⏱️
- Country: France 🇫🇷
- Language: French (with subtitles)
- Release: 2024 (festival circuit)
- Style: Minimalist, atmospheric, emotionally charged
Official Selections
- SXSW
- Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival
- Regard
- Fantastic film festival of Gérardmer
- Jeju French Film Festival
- Mutoscope
- Brest European Film Festival
- Off-courts Trouville
- Désir… Désirs
- Ecrans mixtes
- Séquence court-métrage
Credits
| Role | Name(s) |
| Starring | Flora Fishbach, Le Filip, Renan Prévot |
| Director of Photography | Théodore Hugonnier |
| Music Composers | Marco Novoa, Florent Canale |
| Assistant Director | Mathieu Pérez |
| Editor | Marie-Réglisse Monsimier |
| Sound Recordist | Alix Clément |
| Costume designer | Pierre de Mones |
| Assistant Operator | Clément Petit |
| Production manager | Leïla Carpentier |
| Sound Editor | Olivier Voisin |
| Production Designer | Gaston Portejoie |
| Special Effects | Florent Canale, Quentin Kadlub, Thomas Espinosa |
| Grader | Kevin Le Dortz |
| Make-up Artists | Marco Roscino, Agathe Terrier |
| Sound mixer | Laura Chelfi |
Watch the short
📖 Story in Brief
- The Meeting: A young man crosses paths with someone who feels uncannily familiar.
- The Pull: Their conversations blur the line between strangers and intimates.
- The Conflict: Memory, desire, and fear intertwine — is this recognition real, or imagined?
- The Resolution: The film closes on ambiguity, leaving viewers to decide whether “familiarity” is comfort or danger.
🎨 Creative DNA & Style
- Visual intimacy: Close‑ups of faces, hands, and fleeting glances create a sense of closeness.
- Muted palette: Soft lighting and subdued colors mirror the film’s quiet tension.
- Sound design: Silence punctuated by whispers and ambient noise heightens the uncanny mood.
- Narrative rhythm: Slow pacing allows emotions to simmer, making small gestures feel monumental.
🌟 Themes & Resonance
- Memory & recognition: How we project familiarity onto strangers.
- Desire & fear: Attraction complicated by uncertainty.
- Identity & intimacy: The fragile line between knowing and imagining.
- Ambiguity: The film thrives on unanswered questions, inviting reflection.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- 🎯 Unique premise: Explores the uncanny feeling of déjà vu in relationships.
- 🎨 Atmospheric style: Minimalist visuals heighten emotional resonance.
- 💬 Emotional subtlety: Relies on nuance rather than overt drama.
Cons
- ⏳ Slow pacing: May feel too restrained for viewers seeking action.
- 🌀 Ambiguous ending: Leaves interpretation open, which some may find frustrating.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
Familiar is a meditation on the strange ways we connect — sometimes through memory, sometimes through imagination. Hugonnier crafts a short that feels like a whispered secret, reminding us that intimacy often begins with the simple, haunting question: “Have we met before?”
🔍 Find More & Watch
- Festival listings — screenings and awards information
- IMDb page for Familiar — credits and production details