In this exclusive clip from Lilies Not For Me, Fionn O’Shea’s lead character reminisces on an intimate encounter with a friend.

Directed and written by Will Seefried in his feature film debut, the upcoming historical queer drama explores gay conversion therapy in 1920s England, with O’Shea and Erin Kellyman respectively playing a gay novelist and psychiatric nurse who “form an unlikely friendship over a series of doctor-prescribed ‘dates'”.

“Through their conversations, he tells her the story of his relationship with an old friend which spiraled out of control when they turned to a risky procedure to cure themselves of their forbidden feelings for one another,” reads the synopsis.

Ahead of its release, GAY TIMES has an exclusive look at a scene from the film, which sees Owen (O’Shea) dance with a new friend called Charles (Hofmann) in a flashback as he remembers his past to nurse Dorothy (Kellyman), while Philip (Aramayo) looks on.

O’Shea is best-known to queer audiences for his leading role in Handsome Devil (2016), in which he starred opposite Red, White & Royal Blue star Nicholas Galitzine. Additional credits include Dating Amber, Normal People (both 2020) and Cherry (2021).

Kellyman memorably rose to fame in the MCU’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) and Willow (2022). She is set to star in Danny Boyle’s long-awaited post-apocalyptic horror 28 Years Later and as a lead in Scarlett Johansson’s upcoming directorial debut, Eleanor The Great. 

Fionn O’Shea and Robert Aramayo in Lilies Not For Me

Lilies Not For Me, also starring Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones), Jodi Balfour (Ted Lasso), Louis Hofmann (Dark), will have its World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Friday 16 August).

In a statement, Seefried said the story is “inspired by a part of queer history that not many people know about, but it’s shocking how relevant it still is today,” before adding that he hopes it will “move people to reclaim the narratives that haunt them and remember that self-love is a revolutionary act.”

As of writing, a worldwide release date is yet to be announced for Lilies Not For Me. Check out the exclusive clip here or below.