WORLD PREMIERE: JAMES HYDE - THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU

Written By Ben Uttley

Los Angeles, CA — July 23, 2025 — James Hyde – The Very Thought of You, a breathtaking WWII romantic thriller short, has been officially selected for the Oscar® and BAFTA-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival and premiered in the Romance section on August 15 at 10:00 PM at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatre in Hollywood.

The film stars and is executive produced by BAFTA winner David Jonsson (Rye Lane, Alien: Romulus) and Margaret Clunie (Victoria, Andor), and tells the true story of Warrant Officer James Hyde, a Trinidadian RAF pilot who flew over 70 missions during WWII — and the English woman he loved.

A World-First in Cinematic Aerial Storytelling

Shot entirely in an original 1944 Spitfire, the film features a real one-take dogfight sequence, with David Jonsson actually taking the controls in-flight — a historic first for cinema. Directed and shot by Benjamin Uttley, the film has been featured in a British Society of Cinematographers masterclass for its groundbreaking aerial cinematography.





The films Director and Director of Photography Benjamin Uttley on the HollyShorts Red Carpet

A Stellar Creative Team

Written by Benjamin Uttley and Simon Uttley (Cleaner), the film is produced by Tamana Bleasdale (Band of Brothers, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace) and executive produced by David Jonsson and world-record-holding pilot Matt Jones of Spitfires.com.

Post-production was led by Col Goudie BFE (Rogue One, Tetris) with VFX by Marty Waters (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Thor: Ragnarok) and theatrical Dolby Atmos sound by Glen Gathard (1917, The Dark Knight), with finishing by Molinare. Shot in 8K Superscreen, the film blends epic scale with deep intimacy — and brings to light the forgotten Caribbean heroes of WWII.

To view the full list of official selections visit: 👉 Please see the official lineup of HollyShorts 2025 films here: https://www.hollyshorts.com/news/announcing-the-2025-hollyshorts-official-selections

HollyShorts screenings will take place from August 7-16 at TCL Chinese Theatres, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. 3rd Level, Hollywood, CA, 90028, followed by the annual awards gala on August 17.

For additional information and tickets visit: www.hollyshorts.com To purchase an All Access pass visit: https://hollyshorts2025.eventive.org/passes/buy







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About Stamp Productions: Founded in 2008, Stamp Productions creates high-quality content for some of the world's best brands. As a certified B Corp, Stamp Productions is dedicated to social and environmental responsibility, bringing these values to every project. www.stamp.productions

PR Contact: Benjamin Uttley ben@stamp-productions.com +44 7590 454647

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Ben Uttley
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Official Press Release: James Hyde – The Very Thought of You