Katie, a hardworking student and single mother struggles to balance her studies and relationship with boyfriend JJ, hiding a secret that she feels will tear their relationship apart.

Katie struggles to balance university, her relationship with boyfriend JJ and caring for her young son Ben. With the help of her own overworked single mother, Katie maintains the facade of a carefree young adult, however JJ, unaware of Ben's existence, grows suspicious of her absences. Her mother, though supportive remains concerned about Katie's poor decision making, afraid that history may repeat itself. As their relationship becomes more serious, JJ fears she is seeing someone else, whilst Katie dreads revealing the worried he will leave her just like Ben's father did.

Student. Girlfriend. Mum. 

Katie cannot keep up her double life without one aspect interfering with the other. She faces a decision which will make her reconsider what is most important in her life.

Marina Warchus -  Writer & Director

In this film I hope to capture the complex, often hidden struggles of young adults in urban London. Katie's story is one of resilience, ambition, and the high cost of juggling personal aspirations with family obligations. The story takes place against a backdrop of a city with an ever-growing social divide, restless pace and fierce competition leaving many young people forced to grow up too quickly, shouldering responsibilities they may not yet be ready for.

Through Katie, I hope to bring an authentic portrayal of the emotional and practical challenges of navigating young adulthood amidst personal and family duties. Her journey represents the tension between self-identity and responsibility that so many young people face today. It’s a story about making hard choices, about grit in the face of limited options, and about the sometimes uncomfortable gap between the life you want to lead and the life you feel you must lead.

This film is not just Katie’s story; it’s a snapshot of multiple women and young mothers who are navigating their priorities in an act of selflessness. My goal is for audiences to see themselves at times in Katie, to recognize the resilience and sacrifice of the working class, and to appreciate the quiet, banality of everyday courage it takes to just keep pushing forward.

James Vasa - Producer

I am a third year student producer at Ravensbourne university. I love producing and this story is one I saw a lot growing up in Essex, so the story instantly felt right for me and I am so excited to help bring this project to life.

Matt Costanilla - Cinematographer

Hey i'm Matt, the cinematographer for Diamond in the Ruff. As a huge social realism fan, specifically British social realism I am incredibly excited to be behind the camera, bringing to light often overlooked stories of ordinary people. I can't wait for audiences to experience our main characters story, shot through a fly on the wall lens, feeling the raw emotions in every scene. Stay tuned!

Charlotte Prior - Production Designer

I am a Production Design student at Ravensbourne. I love to experiment with style and genre of film and create sets that enhance that, whether that be through short films, music videos, or those unfortunate deadlines. I am beyond excited to be a half of the PD team on Diamond in The Ruff and cannot wait to design and decorate the sets for this amazing piece.

Maya Singh - Production Designer

As the second half of the Production Design team for Diamond in The Ruff, my aim is to create visually authentic environments that reflect our protagonist Katie's struggles with young parenthood and her complex family dynamics. I joined this project to bring its raw, heartfelt story to life, using design elements that convey the characters' emotions and evolving relationships. My role involves creating spaces that feel lived-in and mirror the characters' inner conflicts, contributing to the film's emotional impact.

Dilan Ali - Costume Designer

Hi I’m Dilan and the Costume Designer for Diamond in The Ruff! I’m a current fashion student and can’t wait to costume design for a film as it is something that is not done on my course but is something that I’m really interested in!

As you can see the majority of the money will be spent on the cast, location and production design. Everything else isn't going to take up too much of the budget in the grand scheme of things. Your money will go towards helping us get the best actors we can find, the most suitable locations for what we need, and will allow our production designers to really let their imagination and creativity flow.