Showing at This Modern World block October 4th, 2025, at 7:00 PM For tickets: HQSFF
By Valerie Milano
Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 9/25/25 – The Hollywood Times was delighted to sit down with London-based producer and director Stephen Carruthers for an exclusive interview about his short film Space Daddy. The film, a camp and absurd queer comedy, screens this fall at the Hollywood Queer Shorts Film Festival, following its raucous premiere at Frameline in San Francisco.
Carruthers describes Space Daddy succinctly: “It’s a camp, absurd comedy about a hook up with some unexpected consequences.” The idea was born during lockdown when his friend and collaborator Joe Jordan penned a script loosely inspired by a real-life fever-dream week after a wild night out. Pulled from a drawer years later, the script sparked a production that aimed not for tragedy or moralizing, but for laughter.
“I enjoy films that take the piss a little bit,” Carruthers told me. “Especially with the self-destructive side that queer people, and really, people in general, can have when it comes to relationships and dating. We wanted to allow that to be funny.”
The choice is refreshing in a queer cinema landscape often defined by weightier, more somber themes. Instead, Space Daddy joins a growing movement of lighthearted, irreverent queer storytelling, films that are playful, silly, and inclusive without sacrificing depth.
Frameline marked a watershed moment for the project. Carruthers recalled the thrill: “It was a pinch-me moment. Frameline has always been one of my favorite festivals. Getting that confirmation email and then seeing audiences laugh and engage with the film, it was amazing.”
It was also a series of firsts: Jordan’s first festival-screened script, Carruthers’ first directed short, and an inaugural chance for the entire team to watch the film on the big screen together. The audience reaction confirmed what they had hoped: there’s a place for absurd, queer comedies that don’t shy away from celebrating humor in imperfection.
Bringing the film to life wasn’t easy. Budget constraints loomed, and the search for the right lead actor nearly stalled production. Enter Noah Thomas (Everything Now, Netflix), whom Carruthers spotted delivering gossip in a bus scene. “I showed it to Joe and said, this is the guy,” he recalled.
Thomas’ performance as Andy anchors the film, balancing outrageous storytelling with emotional resonance. Alongside Ruby, his best friend and confidant, Andy navigates the bizarre consequences of his hookup, supported by a friendship dynamic Carruthers emphasized as “completely non-judgmental, supportive, and funny.”
Even the set design posed hurdles, Jordan’s script called for “Elon Musk’s Barbie Dreamhouse.” On a shoestring budget, the team instead discovered a striking, black-box architectural home in Hackney, which fit the cosmic, otherworldly vibe.
Beneath the neon comedy lies something tender: a meditation on delayed adolescence, self-forgiveness, and acceptance. Carruthers explained: “As queer people, we often don’t get to experiment with dating and love as teenagers. A lot of that happens later. We wanted Andy’s journey to reflect that, it’s okay to be messy, to make mistakes, to still be figuring it out.”
The chemistry between Andy and Ruby underscores this point: the importance of friendship that affirms rather than judges. It’s here that Space Daddy transcends its wild premise, becoming a heartfelt reflection on the realities of queer growth and self-discovery.
Alongside the film, the team commissioned an original pop track, Space Baddie by Ella Boshe, set for release on Spotify. The film’s official Instagram account, @spacedaddyshort, will be posting festival updates, music news, and future collaborations between Carruthers and Jordan.
When asked if he’d invite a real “Space Daddy” in should one appear at his doorstep, Carruthers laughed: “I’d love to say I’d run away, but maybe, maybe I wouldn’t.”
That playful honesty mirrors the film itself: a bold, hilarious, and affectionate reminder that queer lives can, and should, be celebrated in all their chaotic, cosmic glory.
