A selection of my recent narrative and branded work across mediums as a writer, producer and director.
SHORT FILMS
SINGLE PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Short film 2025; sci-fi romcom
Written, Produced & Directed by Jessica Riches & Casey Newell
Starring: Mike Parr (Emmerdale), Lola Sczcotarska (The Apocalypse Box)
When a meteor strike leaves a lonely millennial with minutes to live, she declares her love to her childhood best friend. His response is… not what she expected. A meditation on dating while the world collapses.
Festivals: Nominated for: Enderby Filmmaking Fellowship at AFF, Quarterfinalist for: Ari Aster’s Square Peg Social; Official Selection at: Nashville Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying), Austin Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying), Norwich Film Festival (BAFTA-qualifying)
GOOSEBUMPS
Short film 2025; sci-fi romcom
Written, Produced & Directed by Jessica Riches
Starring: Meg Barlowe (Swarm), Austin Copps
A horny woman finds ways to keep busy when she sends her sex robot back to the factory because he is no longer able to satisfy her. A reflection on AI ethics, based on my talk at CogX with the AI Goosebumps Think Tank.
Festivals: Winner of: Best Comedy Short and Best Live Action Short at AI International Film Festival; Official Selection at: HollyShorts Comedy, Sci-Fi London, Brighton Rocks (BIFA-qualifying), Silicon Beach Film Festival, Arizona International Film Festival, San Francisco Independent Film Festival, Pisa Robot Festival; Honourable Mention at: Laugh After Dark ComedyFest
BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Short film 2024; sci-fi drama
Directed by Maya Zupano; Produced by JL Davis, Rachel Warren
Written by Jessica Riches
Starring: Tom Stourton (Barbie, Poor Things, Stath Lets Flats), Tallulah Haddon (The Last Duel, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Loreece Harrison (Misbehaviour, Followers)
Two beauty queens. Decades of pageants. One victory that changed everything. And Nostalg.AI, a new technology that can take them back to it.
Festivals: Winner of Best Drama Short at: Dreamer of Dreams Film Festival; Official Selection at: FilmQuest, DIFF Shorts, New Renaissance Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying), Northampton Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying), Beeston Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying), London Independent Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying), Sunderland Shorts Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying), That Film Festival Cannes, Women In Revolt Film Festival, Wales International Film Festival, North East International Film Festival, Marbella International Film Festival, City of Angels Women’s Film Festival, FeKK Ljubljana Short Film Festival; Honourable Mention at: Brighton Rocks (BIFA-qualifying)
BELIEVING THE STRANGEST THINGS
Short film 2025; sci-fi / comedy mockumentary
Written, Produced & Directed by Jessica Riches & Casey Newell
Starring: Paul Clayton (Peep Show, House of the Dragon, The Full Monty, Eastenders), Tim Berrington (Succession, Layla, Everything I Know About Love), Megan Prescott (Skins)
A filmmaker reflects on her first film and the way it changed her relationship with her father as she accidentally uncovers the truth behind his alien abduction.
Currently in post-production
REALLY GOOD EXPOSURE
Short film 2025; drama
Written & Directed by Megan Prescott
Produced by Jessica Riches, Megan Prescott
Starring: Megan Prescott (Skins)
An out-of-work actress prepares to portray a sex-worker, uncovering nuance and relatability she didn’t expect in the role. Based on Meg’s award-winning Edinburgh Fringe & Soho Theatre show.
Currently in post-production
PODCAST
MOONSHOT: Footsteps on the Moon
Podcast series 2024; 5 episodes, narrative nonfiction
Written by Jessica Riches
Produced by HappenedHere
Starring: Stephen Fry
Five historical moments that shaped the 1960s space race:
– WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON
– AD ASTRA PER ASPERA
– OH, THAT’S A BEAUTIFUL SHOT
– A BUNCH OF GUYS ABOUT TO TURN BLUE
– FOR ALL MANKIND
BRANDED
THE FUTURE THANKS YOU
Micro-documentary series 2024; 7 episodes
Directed by Oscar McNabb
Produced by Jessica Riches, Clare Dimmock and Shaun Rhodes
Client: The UN Department of Global Communications
Partners: Fortescue, TikTok, Rockefeller
Agency: Purpose
Climate activists from all seven continents envision their hopes for the future. Used to drive 60,000 participants in TheFutureThanksYou online experience, and to form the basis of this report on hope in climate comms, presented at The UN General Assembly 2024.
NOT JUST SMALL TALK
Social media series 2024; 5 videos
Produced by Jessica Riches, Alexandra Callaway
Client: Wellcome Trust
Agency: Purpose
Real life stories from 3 people who experienced the adverse effects of extreme heat in Europe, along with guidance from celebrity doctor Doctor Hillary, and newsreader Angela Rippon. This series connected health dangers to climate issues, targeting a Loyal National audience.
YOUR VICTORY
TV ad with social cutdowns 2025
Written, Produced & Directed by Jessica Riches & Casey Newell
Client: My Club Group
Part of a rebrand for grassroots teamwear provider My Club Group, this spot shows how the hard work of every player is what makes teams special, no matter their sport or skill.
THE FINAL WHISTLE
Video for social & PR 2019
Produced in collaboration with Cubaka and Studio Yes, directed by Simon K. Matthews
In house Head of Social Content: Virgin Trains
Sir Richard Branson, Barry from EastEnders, Chris Kamara and Mr Blobby starred in our tongue-in-cheek music video to the Dirty Dancing hit ‘I’ve Had the Time of my Life’ to bid farewell to Virgin Trains after 22 years of serving the West Coast Mainline.
ALAN PARTRIDGE ON FREE SPEECH
Social video 2012
Produced with Steve Coogan
In house Digital Lead: Hacked Off
A series of satirical videos about the editors of major newspapers attempts to promote self-regulation in the wake of the phone hacking scandal and the Leveson Inquiry.
Jessica Riches 