Short Film Sets Story of Resilience and Belonging in Ealing

Independently made Unwanted is about a young Polish actress

Karolina Salwa as Sylwia

April 30, 2026

A new independent short film shot in Ealing is preparing for the festival circuit, telling a story of artistic struggle, mental health and the search for belonging through the eyes of a young Polish actress trying to build a life in London.

Unwanted , a 22-minute UK–Poland–Hungary co-production, was filmed with a London-based cast and crew and is the fifth short film by British-Hungarian director Marianna Strommer. The film follows Sylwia, a Polish actress juggling survival jobs, acting school and the emotional distance of a long-term relationship, only to see her fragile stability collapse when her agency suddenly shuts down. She is “adrift and hopeless” until a chance encounter with a street musician forces her to confront her fears and “rediscover her voice” .

The film’s themes — resilience, vulnerability and the precariousness of creative life in London — are rooted in real experiences. The synopsis notes that Sylwia’s journey reflects “relentless rejection” and the feeling of being “cut off from her family” while trying to survive in a city that can feel indifferent to those chasing artistic dreams .

Director Marianna Strommer said the story resonated deeply with her own path into filmmaking. In her director’s statement, she explains that Sylwia’s setbacks echoed “my harshest inner voice” and that the character’s determination reflects “the story of anyone who has tried to fit into a world where you're not sure you'll ever belong” . Strommer, a multi-award-winning filmmaker, has worked across both micro-budget and high-end international productions and is known for championing women’s stories that show “the full scale of female intellect, intuition and resilience” .

The cast includes Karolina Salwa as Sylwia, Elainea Emmott as the Stranger, and Leon Hong as William, with cinematography by Alina Kay Kolosova and production design by Marta Teixeira. The film was produced by Resonance Productions with support from the Liszt Institute London and Origo Studios.

Salwa, who also co-wrote and executive-produced the film, said the team hopes Unwanted will resonate with local audiences because it was created within the community it depicts. “We recently shot in Ealing with a London-based cast and crew,” she said. “The film explores themes of mental health, belonging and resilience — and because it was created here in Ealing, we believe it may be of interest to readers who follow local arts and community-driven projects.”

With festival submissions now under way, the filmmakers say local support would mean a great deal to the team as they begin the next stage of the film’s journey.