'They Call This Healing' – Help Young Creatives Finish This Film About Starting Again
Support a youth-led short film about healing, new beginnings, and the quiet courage to move forward.
Auckland
'They Call This Healing; is a tender, bittersweet, slice-of-life short film about a young woman caught in the quiet pause after a difficult chapter. Drifting through the stillness of daily life, she aches for a way back to herself. Through late-night conversations, soft rituals, and fleeting connections, she begins to move forward – slowly, gently, one small step at a time.
The film is a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt stuck, or lost, or like they’re learning how to begin again.
This film was created by a community of over 30 young filmmakers, some as young as 16, working together under Lemon Time Studios – a youth-led, not-for-profit film crew based in Tāmaki Makaurau. We’ve already completed pre-production and filming, pouring $4,000 of our own money into making it happen. Now, as we move into post-production, we’re reaching out for support to help us finish the journey.
None of us are being paid. Every dollar you give goes directly toward essential costs: equipment rental and purchases, location fees and transport, craft services to feed the team, set dressing, costume, makeup, post-production (editing, sound, colour), and festival submission fees.
By donating, you’re not just helping finish a film – you’re uplifting a generation of young creatives who believe in telling honest, meaningful stories.
If you’ve ever dared to begin again, no matter how softly, this film is for you.
Thank you for helping us bring it to life!
Promise Akindeju's involvement (page creator)
*Promise and Ajay's Involvement*
Promise Akindeju is 22 and has just finished her degree at The University of Auckland in Engineering Science (Honors). Last year, Promise and her friend Zoe Roche (5th year Law and Arts student) co-founded a not-for-profit, youth lead film studio called ‘Lemon Time Studios’ – because “when life gives us lemons, we make short films”. In 2024 they made four short films and showcased them at Capitol Cinema, and worked with lovely people from different groups at their University (ranging from the Film Society, to Business groups like BizTech, and AUPSA: Auckland University Psychology Students' Association).
This year, Lemon Time Studios welcomed a new Co-director and Co-producer, Ajay Mistry. Together with Promise, Ajay has co-led the first production of 2025, 'They Call This Healing'. At just 22, Ajay brings a sharp cinematic eye, technical expertise, and a strong background in photography, visual storytelling, and cinema software – making him an exciting new addition to the team!
Use of funds
All funds raised will go towards essential costs like equipment rental, locations and transport, craft services, set dressing, costume and makeup, post-production (editing, sound, colour), plus festival submissions and promotional materials.
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