A year after I had cast her in a supporting role in my short advocacy drama ‘Who’s Counting?’ for Tommy’s, Rosie Chappel shared a picture of herself in her scrubs, proud that she had only five weeks to go until she qualified as a midwife. Soon after seeing the picture, I messaged Rosie about an idea for a project called ‘Delivery’.

Together, over the following year, via countless Zoom and phone calls, Google docs, voice notes and text messages, we developed a story using Rosie’s lived experience of life and death pregnancy cases on an NHS maternity ward to craft the story of Mary, a newly-qualified midwife undertaking the most challenging night shift of her career. ‘Delivery’ is the result, a scripted 25 minute short that focuses on the incredible physical and psychological strain on midwives as they witness the long-lasting impact of childbirth related trauma, a subject so rarely spoken about.

‘Delivery’ was nominated for Best British Short at the 2024 British Independent Film Awards, Best Short Film at the British Short Film Awards, won Best Debut Short at Tirana International Film Festival, Best British Film at Norwich International Film Festival, the Audience Award at North East International Film Festival, and both Best Drama & the Audience Award at This is England Festival in Rouen, France.

I spoke to Directors Notes about the making of the film. Read the interview here.