Netherlands, France, Belgium
2026 | 102 min. | Fiction

Alec, a soft-spoken, introverted teenager, has always viewed life through the lens of his father’s small-time pornography business. When they relocate from London to a sleepy seaside town, Alec hopes for a fresh start, trying to make friends without revealing his unconventional life. Everything shifts when he meets the fiercely independent Nina, whose convictions redefine the world he has grown up in. As their relationship deepens, Alec’s understanding of sexuality and desire begins to shift. What begins as an unlikely connection evolves into a tender and unexpectedly heartwarming story about discovering real intimacy – and what it truly means to be seen.

Directed by: Muriel d’Ansembourg
Written by: Muriel d’Ansembourg
Produced by: Isabella Depeweg, Els Vandevorst, Antonino Lombardo, Tom Dercourt, Christophe Bruncher
Cinematography: Myrthe Mosterman
Editing: Emiel Nuninga
Production Design: Fleur Ankoné
Costume Design: Isabel Van Renterghem
Make-Up & Hair: Diana Dreesen
Original Score: Evgueni Galperine, Sacha Galperine
Sound: Herman Pieëte
Visual Effects: Emmanuelle Pianko
Casting: Georgia Topley
Cast: Caolán O'Gorman (Alec), Andrew Howard (Dylan), Alessa Savage (Lizzie), Safiya Benaddi (Nina)

Statement of the director:
I remember the first time I went to a film screening followed by a Q&A with a female filmmaker. I was amazed it had such a strong effect on me to hear a woman speak about filmmaking instead of a man. I never realised it would make a difference, but the sense of belonging and empowerment that came over me in the cinema that day was essential in my belief that I could become a filmmaker myself. Whenever I find the filmmaking process hard, I remind myself that I was once inspired by a woman who had to go through similar struggles to be able to stand there and speak about her film.
I didn’t become a filmmaker to play it safe, but to create something authentic and true. And truth can live in the places we’re told to hide. Truly Naked would never have existed if I had obeyed that instinct to stay silent. I’ve realised that wanting to be liked by everyone is a trap, but it’s a tricky one because it’s so deeply ingrained in our culture, and in the way many girls are brought up. I try not to let any of this stand in my way of speaking up, sharing my opinion, or disagreeing. It’s far more interesting when someone brings their true voice into the room.
This story kept pulling me somewhere I hadn’t been before, and I followed that. I wanted to make a film that pushes into uncomfortable territory, but with care. A film that invites you to sit close to its characters without judgement. Not to explain or resolve everything, but to feel. I can imagine that some will focus on the elements surrounding pornography. But to do so would be to reduce the film to a narrow reading. No matter the family or environment we are raised in, our souls crave connection.
The film explores intimacy in its different forms: within the family, within friendship and love, and within oneself. The bond between Dylan and his son Alec is close, yet challenging and unorthodox. Alec is a gentle soul navigating a complex world. He gets to redefine his own values around sex and love through Nina, who is raised in a matriarchal household, in contrast to Alec’s testosterone-driven home. While a parent’s profession often impacts their children, it’s sometimes the subtle wisdom of the younger generation that ignites transformation.

Production/World Sales:
m-appeal
https://m-appeal.com/