Adapted from the critically acclaimed play, Experience (Hampstead Theatre, 2016), Embers follows Amy, a sexual surrogate, is employed to help a high-security psychiatric patient overcome his intimacy issues in order to make parole. Incarcerated for 18 years, Dan must confront his dark past if he is to have any chance of freedom.

Dave Florez, who wrote the play adapted it to screen with Christian Cooke. This is the second time Mini is teaming up with Christian having produced his short film directorial debut, Edith, and now his debut feature film. He not only co-writes and but also stars alongside Ruth Bradley (Humans, Ted Lasso, The Gold), Clare Perkins (The Outlaws, Secrets & Lies), Samual Anderson (History Boys, Another Life), David Wilmot (The Guard, Calvary, The Wonder) and Sam Phillips (Bridgeton).

The film is in co-production with Lorton Entertainment whose scripted credits include The Escape (Gemma Arterton, Dominic Cooper) and Two for Joy (Samantha Morton, Billie Piper, Bella Ramsey). Their critically acclaimed documentaries consist of Supersonic, Maradona, Rooney, and Becker with a James Blunt documentary on the way.

This bold and highly original story attracted extraordinary behind-the-camera talent such as Composer, Isobel Waller-Bridge, Costume Designer, Julian Day, and illuminatrix Cinematographer, Martyna Knitter.

For months leading up to the shoot, the director and lead actor worked with movement and intimacy co-ordinator, Imogen Knight, and together with a real-life sexual surrogate, Sue Newsome, they developed an intimate bond as artists and mapped out an intimacy programme for their characters, Dan and Amy.

In January 2022, during principal photography, the film was announced via Screendaily:

Mini describes Embers as “an unapologetic exploration of sexual surrogacy and its use as an alternative psychiatric treatment. It poses the question, why such intimacy therapy isn’t more accessible.”

Lorton’s Arthur Landon and Ed Barratt added that “Christian has spent most of his life in front of the lens, but he was born to direct. His knowledge of story, his vision, the characters along with his passion for the process has resulted in an assured style and tone.”

Later in 2022, as announced in Deadline, the film was selected at the BFI London Film Festival as 1 of 9 projects to take part in the Work-in-Progress Showcase.