Movie poster with the title Sound Asleep in stylised text, at the top. Lower down it reads:

Sound Asleep is a quirky comedy short film, starring Red Dwarf’s Danny John-Jules.

Logline:
When an insomniac reaches breaking point, he declares war on every sound in his flat.

Synopsis:
Deen Peels needs sleep, but the world just won’t shut up. Over one relentless night he tries to take back control — even if it kills him.

Filmed in Madrid and London, the film uses physical comedy, in-camera effects and complex sound design, but no dialogue and only one actor.  Completed in 2025. In festivals 2025-26. 

The full film isn’t available online while it plays festivals. Here are a few stills and behind-the-scenes shots.

I wrote Sound Asleep after too many nights lying awake, obsessing over tiny noises that feel enormous at 3 a.m. I wanted to take that familiar frustration and push it into the territory of physical comedy and mild absurdity. It’s a simple idea executed with care: visual storytelling, rhythm, and a playful relationship with sound.

But Sound Asleep is about more than insomnia for me as a director. It was also a way to put my neurodivergent relationship with sleep on screen, long before I had any language for it.

Director Nadaav Soudry, Danny John-Jules and the crew of Sound Asleep watch playback on the set of Sound Asleep Short Film

Starring: Danny John-Jules

Writer / Director / Producer / Editor:  Nadaav
Producer:  Dino Webber
Co-producers:  Ajay Arora, James Taylor
Executive Producer:  Jonathan Livingstone
Director of Photography:  Franklin Dow
1st Assistant Director:  Josemari Martinez
Art Director:  Marcelo Renieblas Paredes
Sound Recordist:  Juan Carlos “Charlie” Arribas
Gaffer:   Adolfo Berzosa Rodriguez
Makeup Artist:  Marina H
Costume:  Sammm Agnew
Original Music:  Rich House
Camera Assistant:  Naomi Hancock
Art Department Assistant:  Luis Morales
Production Assistant:  Nick Gaven
Runner:  Kristen Abel
Dog Trainer:  Mariano Galán
Cuddles the dog:  Cavatina
Colourist:  Gareth Thomas
Visual Effects:  Cameron Smither
Additional Visual Effects:  Miland Suman
Additional Editing:  Ross McFall, Slade Lamey
Illustrations:  Peter Ayers, Marina H
Music & Sound Design:  Rich House

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Copyright Nadaav Soudry