As the deadline for the BFI NETWORK England’s Short Film Fund approaches, we sat down with writer/director Hsieh Meng Han and producer Menna Morgan to discuss The Test, their powerful short film exploring the immigration experience in the UK. The two share insights into the film’s origins, challenges faced during the production process, and the film’s journey through the festival circuit. 

Hsieh Meng Han is an award-winning writer and director from Taiwan. Her short films, Bleeding Lies and HOME, and her commercial, Kindness Takes You Forward, have been accepted into multiple film festivals worldwide and have received both nominations and awards. Meng Han works as a Creative Video Director at THG Studios. Her latest BFI funded short film, The Test, is now on the festival circuit and she is also developing her first feature film.

Menna Morgan is a production assistant at the Northern-based film company Old Hall Films. A graduate from the University of Manchester with a First Class Honours degree in Drama, Menna works on creative projects including documentaries and docudramas and is eager to expand her experiences in the film and television industry.

Meng Han: For immigrants in the UK seeking permanent residency, passing the Life in the UK Test is a mandatory step. I took mine and the experience at the test centre was unsettling. The staff seemed suspicious, almost convinced that test-takers would try to cheat. There was an undeniable power dynamic at play, making the process feel more like an assessment of worth than a routine examination. Although I passed, the experience left me feeling demoralised.

A few months later, I decided to channel that frustration into a short film. As I developed the script, I spoke to others who had taken the test and gathered insights from their experiences. 

After I started working with Old Hall Films, Menna, and the BFI Short Film Fund, we went through several more drafts together. Our goal was to ensure the final piece not only reflected my voice as an artist and my immigration experience but also told a story with a solid structure and a fully developed character arc.

Meng Han:The Test has a double meaning. It refers not only to the Life in the UK test but also to a test that all immigrants have gone through, are going through, and will continue to face - a test of enduring micro-aggressions.

We hope this film resonates with immigrants navigating the British citizenship process, echoing their desire to be recognised and treated equally in the UK while shedding light on the xenophobia they sometimes encounter. As the story draws from real-life experiences, we want it to offer comfort, validating their feelings and ensuring their stories are seen and heard.

At the same time, the film is aimed at British citizens who may know little about the immigration process. Many people I’ve spoken to were surprised not only by how irrelevant most questions in the test are but also by the length and cost of gaining citizenship. By raising awareness, we hope to encourage discussions that lead to positive change. Additionally, we want audiences to reflect on the true purpose of the UK’s citizenship requirements. Is it genuinely about integration, or is it about easing the anxieties of the ‘native’ population?

Menna: I’ve always been fascinated by the process of making films. My first experience came during a documentary module I took at the University of Manchester, where I was studying Drama. I loved the collaborative aspect of filmmaking and I soon learnt that I was far better behind the camera than in front of it.

My journey properly began when I joined Keith Farrell's Manchester-based indie Old Hall Films as a production assistant. Here I gained a wide exposure to many aspects of film production, both scripted and unscripted.

The Creative Producer Lab was an incredibly useful introduction to producing, it grew my confidence, and really excited me that this is something I want to do. Whilst taking part in the Lab, I was co-producing Charlene Jones’ The Sun is Up Forever, with Margot Douglas, who’s been an excellent mentor. Producing The Test was a brilliant learning curve. I’m really proud of this film, it’s such an important story, and to have helped it come to life is a fantastic feeling. It solidifies for me why I want to do producing. 

Menna: Meng Han emailed us at Old Hall Films with her film project, The Test. The script was in a really strong place, and her vision was already really clear. Meng Han got in touch with us at a time where anti-immigrant sentiments were scarily on the rise, and the film felt incredibly timely and important to tell now. There was also an authenticity to The Test which made it stand out for me - Meng Han was using the film as a creative outlet to express her personal experience, it felt empowering and also widely relatable for immigrants trying to navigate a hostile immigration system.

Menna: Finding an office location was tricky for this film. Sourcing a space that didn’t need much dressing, but was an unoccupied office space was a long process. It worked out in the end filming at Manchester Communication Academy, which was a great location. 

There were actually quite a lot of moving parts to the film. We required a number of supporting artists to recreate the test centre’s environment - the fantasy scene in the test centre required quite a lot of coordination. On one of the days we were filming on a bus! Time restrictions were also a challenge at points, but we had such an incredible and talented cast and crew who made the production run smoothly. 

Menna: I have gained so much respect for the entire process. There are so many components to filmmaking, and they are all as important as each other. Now when I’m working on projects that are in development, I’m thinking ahead to production, and to post-production, to delivery and distribution. I’ve learnt to be detailed, whilst also being able to look at the bigger picture and take a sort of holistic approach, because it is such a process and it is all so interconnected. There is always something new to learn, which I find exciting, so I try to take an open approach and soak up as much of it as I can. That’s the benefit of working at a small indie, I get exposure to the entire filmmaking process, and take on different roles. 

Meng Han: My experience applying for the BFI Network Short Film Fund was very smooth, thanks to my incredibly capable producer, Menna. We started early, giving ourselves plenty of time to refine our application, polish the script, and develop the pitch deck until we were both happy with it.

The interview process was also a positive experience. The team was friendly and genuinely supportive. I especially appreciate working with our BFI Talent Executive, Jen, who asked insightful questions, respected my vision, and encouraged my creative choices.

For filmmakers going through this process, I would recommend finding a strong and reliable producer. Trust your vision, communicate it clearly, and stay open to feedback. 

Meng Han: The Test will be screened at Hebden Bridge Film Festival in early April, followed by Fastnet Film Festival in Ireland this May. We have a few more festival selections lined up, but as they haven’t been officially announced, we can’t share details just yet. We’re still waiting on more good news from the festival circuit and are hopeful for an upcoming premiere in Asia as well.

Meng Han: Aside from making commercials, I have two short film projects in development and hope to bring them to life later this year. I’m also working on my first feature film script, which is both challenging and deeply fulfilling.

Menna: I’ve got a few exciting projects coming up with Old Hall Films’ sister company in Ireland, Tile Media, including two documentary programmes which will go into production in summer. In April, I’m heading over to Ireland to be a production coordinator for a Screen Ireland Focus Short film. I’m working on a series of projects in development with Old Hall Films and Mordecai Films which amplify bold and underrepresented stories. I’d like to continue developing film projects in the North, and make the most of the incredible talent that is here.

Our fund supports filmmaking teams based in the North who are working on fiction shorts in live action, animation and immersive/virtual reality.

Applications close Tuesday 25 March 2025: read the funding guidelines and learn more here.


Image credits ©Jay Chow