"Visually striking… A reminder of how dextrous the documentary form can be." Sheffield Doc Fest Artist Melanie Manchot's debut feature is a visually striking film-within-a-film, exploring mental health and addiction. STEPHEN, the acclaimed hybrid fiction/documentary by artist and filmmaker Melanie Manchot, offers a compelling and deeply human exploration of identity, recovery, mental health and the blurred boundaries between performance and lived experience. Centred on Stephen Giddings both a real person and the protagonist he portrays, the film follows his transformative journey as he auditions to play a version of himself, navigating themes of addiction, trauma, and self understanding. Through a blend of scripted drama, observational footage, and interviews, Manchot constructs a layered narrative in which fiction and reality continually fold into one another.