Director's Works
The Migraine Trust, Migraine Means... Callum Lloyd-James
Callum is a filmmaker interested the awkward moments, quiet emotions and small details that make people feel real. He often threads in touches of surrealism and dry wit, using them to highlight feeling rather than distract from it.
His connection to film started young, with an iPod Nano becoming an unlikely way into the films that stuck with him. Influenced by everything from classic cinema to low budget music videos, he later studied film across the UK, the USA and India, building his technical understanding while shaping his own voice as a storyteller.
Callum’s work is character led and visually playful, but always rooted in something human. Whether he is making music videos, short films or more experimental projects, his focus is on honesty, emotion and finding humour in the everyday.
When I first began developing this film, I wanted to make something that did not just show what a migraine looks like, but what it feels like to live with one, especially in a place where vulnerability is often hidden: the workplace.
Migraines are an invisible condition, and that invisibility often creates misunderstanding, judgment, and isolation. In shaping this story, I was drawn to the quiet resilience of someone trying to carry on while their body and mind are in conflict. The office setting allowed us to explore the subtle tension between external expectations and internal struggle, the clash between professional composure and personal pain.
My hope is that the film not only gives a voice to those living with migraine but also encourages greater empathy and understanding. If even one person sees a colleague, friend, or loved one differently after watching, then the film has done its job.
