After her estranged Palestinian father passes away, Linda returns to her childhood home in Glasgow, one last time. When her 10-year-old self suddenly appears, she is guided deeper into her own memories and her family's past.
The Key is a Scottish-Palestinian magical realist film that meditates on the power that personal and collective grief can have on relating with one’s own identity. Symbols of longing, collective trauma and the family’s past interweave with the playfulness of childhood and imagination in this reflective short film.

Written and Directed by Theo Panagopoulos

Produced by Penny Davies & Simone Pereira Hind

Cast

Linda - Simone Lahbib

Young Linda - Abby Wallace

Walid - Firas Ibrahim

Rasha - Habiba Saleh

Director of Photography: Nelisa Alcalde

Editor: Theo Panagopoulos

Production Designer: Urte Rusteikaite

Music: Alexandra Katerinopoulou

Script Editor: Kate Leys

Costume Designer: Marta Aspe

Make Up Designer: Madeleine Drewell

1st Assistant Director: Les White

Sound Recordist: Craig Jackson

Gaffer: Stewart Torley

Casting Director: Anna Dawson

1st Assistant Camera: Lara Abrami

2nd Assistant Camera: Dee McGloin

Data Wrangler: Joe Jones

Electrician: Spike Wright

Covid Supervisor: Ruth McNidder

Floor Runner: Max McGuigan

Stills Photographer: Robert Pereira Hind

Edit Consultant: Lindsay Watson

Colourist: John Sackey

Dubbing Mixers: Adam Wood & Kym Hamilton

Online Editor: Andrew Berry

Post Production Coordinator: Sarah Murray

Post Production House: Serious Facilities

Camera Equipment: No Drama

Lighting Equipment: Lighttrack

Insurers: WK Film Insurance

For Short Circuit

Executive Producers: Gillian Berrie, Tiernan Kelly, Miriam Newman, Iria Pizania

Project Coordinator: Rachel Wilson

Development and Production Assistant: Balenji Mwiche

For Screen Scotland

Executive Producer: Sean Greenhorn

Writer/Director Mentor: Ben Sharrock