Memento Intl. Boards Will Seefried’s Romance ‘Lilies Not for Me,’ Starring Fionn O’Shea and Robert Aramayo

Will Seefried’s romance drama “Lilies Not for Me,” featuring Fionn O’Shea (“Normal People”) and Robert Aramayo (“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”), has been picked up by Memento International ahead of its world premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

The cast of rising stars also includes Erin Kellyman (“Willow”), Jodi Balfour (“Ted Lasso,” “The Crown”), and Louis Hofmann (“Dark”).

Set in 1920s England, “Lilies Not for Me” tells the story of a gay novelist and his psychiatric nurse who form an unlikely friendship over a series of doctor-prescribed dates. They delve into the novelist’s past relationship with an old friend, which took a dark turn when they attempted a risky procedure to cure themselves of their forbidden feelings for each other.

The film is produced by Emilie Georges and Naima Abed from “Call Me by Your Name,” and Hannes Otto, Roelof Storm, and Seefried under their new banner Wolflight. Robert Aramayo also serves as executive producer, alongside Julia Zak for Cinetic Media, Cindy Gabriel for Giant Films, Vincent Mai, Alessandro Iovino, and Anthony de Rauville. UTA Independent Film Group is handling domestic rights in North America.

Seefried is a burgeoning filmmaker who directed the short film “Homesick,” which premiered at SXSW in 2022 and won several awards. The screenplay for “Lilies Not for Me” was a semifinalist in the 2021 Academy Nicholl Fellowship.

The director described the film as “about choosing love over fear.” He highlighted that the story draws inspiration from a relatively unknown part of queer history that remains shockingly relevant today. Seefried expressed his hope that the film will inspire viewers to reclaim their narratives and recognize that self-love is a revolutionary act. Seefried is represented by UTA Independent Film Group.

Memento International praised “Lilies Not for Me” as a poignant tale of love and resilience, emphasizing the ensemble cast’s strong and touching performances. They noted that the film offers a powerful commentary on the constraints society imposes on human behavior and the courage required to defy them.

In addition to “Lilies Not for Me,” Memento International’s roster features Directors’ Fortnight award-winner “The Other Way Around” by Jonás Trueba, and Ryan J.Sloan’s U.S. psychological thriller “Gazer.” Their current lineup also includes Haifaa Al-Mansour’s new film “Unidentified,” which is in production, and several films in post-production such as Emilie Blichfieldt’s “The Ugly Stepsister,” Guillaume Nicloux’s biopic “The Divine Sarah Bernhardt,” and Camille Perton’s corporate thriller “Arenas.”