Intriguing feature film debut by British director Luna Carmoon paints an eccentric portrait of the unstable adolescent Maria, who is trying to process childhood traumas. Her encounter with Michael – also a foster child – completely throws Maria off balance.

In the London of 1984, eccentric single mother Cynthia (Hayley Squires) lives with her 7-year-old daughter Maria (Lily-Beau Leach) in a world full of tender touches and boundless love. By day, they scour the streets in search of discarded treasures, while their home slowly transforms into a shaky tower of collected waste. Even the rats that make their home there are welcomed with open arms. One fateful night, this warm and protected world for Maria comes crashing down. Ten years later, she (Saura Lightfoot-Leon) lives with her foster mother and seems to have left the past behind, until the older and mysterious Michael (Joseph Quinn) appears. His arrival unleashes forgotten traumas, magic, and madness.

Hoard is a promising directorial debut from filmmaker Luna Carmoon. Her bold directing style and the carefree nature of the lead actors give the film a tumultuous energy, where recklessness and unexpected humor go hand in hand.