Perry Bhandal
Perry Bhandal | |
|---|---|
 Perry Bhandal in 2019 | |
| Born | 12 January 1968 Taplow, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, producer, author |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Notable work | Interview with a Hitman, The Last Boy, Okay, It’s Time to Go |
Perry Bhandal (born 12 January 1968) is a British film director, screenwriter, producer, and author. He is known for the films Interview with a Hitman, The Last Boy, and the generatively produced series Okay, It’s Time to Go. He is also the author of _prelude, a collection of short stories and artwork, and The Winter Man, a crime thriller novel.
Early life
[edit]Bhandal was born in Taplow, England, and is of Sikh heritage. He received a BSc from the University of Manchester, followed by M.A. degrees in film and creative writing from Brunel University.[1]
Career
[edit]In May 2009, Bhandal founded the film production company Kirlian Pictures and began developing his debut feature, Interview with a Hitman.[1]
He shot the film in 18 days in August 2011 on location in Newcastle and Bucharest. It had its market premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012 and was later released theatrically in the UK on 20 July 2012, and in the US on 5 March 2013.[2][3]
Bhandal directed his second feature, the Rumi-inspired science fiction fantasy thriller The Last Boy, in 2017.[4][5] The film was released in 2019.
In 2024, Bhandal wrote, directed, and produced Okay, It’s Time to Go, a dystopian short film created entirely using generative tools. The 38-minute film explores the societal impact of a fictional suicide device known as the "Stopwatch", examining themes of population ethics and personal autonomy. It was released on Amazon Prime in December 2024 and later expanded into an episodic mini-series. The second episode, titled The Death of Birth, was released in April 2024. The final episode, Press the Button, is scheduled for release in September 2025 on Amazon.[6]
In May 2025, Bhandal was featured in a Franceinfo article on the growing use of generative technology in auteur cinema at the Cannes Film Festival. Describing his work on the series, he said: “If I want to use special effects that would cost $10 million to make, I can now.” Reflecting on his creative process, Bhandal drew a comparison with George Lucas's approach to character design on Revenge of the Sith, noting: “I do the same, but with a simple computer.”[7] Bhandal has described generative tools as “the most powerful equaliser in cinema history”, highlighting their role in enabling independent filmmakers to create work that previously would have required significant budgets and large teams.[6]
Publications
[edit]- _prelude – a collection of short stories and artwork (2020), ISBN 978-1-9831-3734-1
- The Winter Man – a crime thriller novel (2020), ISBN 978-1-5272-5946-1
Filmography
[edit]Feature films
[edit]| Year | Title | Credited as | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Screenwriter | Producer | ||
| 2012 | Interview with a Hitman | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2019 | The Last Boy | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2024 | Okay, It’s Time to Go | Yes | Yes | Yes |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Bhandal, Perry (31 August 2012). "Making your first feature film: can art and business coexist?". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ^ "International Distributors – Interview with a Hitman". IMDb.
- ^ Kemp, Stuart. "Strippers vs Werewolves,' 'Interview With a Hitman' Coming to U.S. Screens". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "Luke Goss joins 'The Last Boy'". Screen Daily. 10 August 2016.
- ^ "Spotlight Pictures brings 'The Last Boy' to AFM (exclusive)". Screen Daily. 31 October 2017.
- ^ a b Bhandal, Perry (14 February 2024). "An indie filmmaker on AI – the most powerful equaliser in cinema history". Broadcast Now. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes 2025 : dans le milieu du film d'auteur, la révolution de l'IA a déjà commencé". Franceinfo (in French). 15 May 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
