In an effort to make friends in high school, Lucas finds himself in a position that compromises his safety. In the aftermath, he realizes that the support he seeks is not guaranteed. Official YouTube SelectionSubscribe to our Channel Director’s Vision for ‘Cold Hands’ Cold Hands comes from something very personal to me.

I was sexually abused in high school, and it’s something I’m still working through. Making this film became a way for me to sit with that experience and try to understand it from a different angle. At its core, the film is about the fear of being betrayed by someone you trust.

I wanted it to feel grounded and real, like something that could happen to anyone, so the audience isn’t just watching, but questioning what they would do in the same situation. I first started shaping this story back in high school, and later developed it further through the Creators’ Unit at the Paprika Festival in Toronto. That was the first time I ever shared any part of this experience out loud, and it’s a big reason why I knew I wanted to keep telling stories like this.

During pre-production, I learned that many people in the cast had their own experiences with sexual assault. That changed the process in a meaningful way. We were able to build something together, and the film became bigger than just my story, it became something shared.

This film is for anyone who feels like they can’t speak up, or worries they won’t be believed. It’s also for the people around them. I hope it makes you think about how you show up for others, and what it means to really listen. No one should have to go through something like this alone.