Mr. Setback (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Mr. Setback is a nine-minute romantic comedy-drama about Pedro, whose anxiety over meeting his girlfriend Layla’s parents turns a simple dinner plan into a series of delays. Written and directed by Sarine Zeitlian, the French short film stars Gaël Thulliez and Noée Andraos.

Mr. Setback is a 2026 short film that places romantic nerves at the center of a family dinner plan. The story follows Pedro and Layla as they prepare for Pedro to meet Layla’s parents.

With its blend of romance, comedy and drama, the film focuses on the anxious habits that can turn an ordinary social occasion into a daunting challenge. At nine minutes, it presents its premise in a compact format.

Mr. Setback movie details

Story without spoilers

Layla and Pedro are preparing to have dinner with Layla’s parents, an important meeting for the couple. Pedro wants to make a good impression, but his anxiety keeps getting in the way. Instead of moving forward with the preparations, he repeatedly procrastinates, creating the central comic and dramatic tension of the film.

What to expect

The film combines romantic comedy with a small-scale interpersonal drama. Its premise is built around social anxiety, procrastination and the pressure of meeting a partner’s parents. Viewers can expect a concise story centered on one relationship and one increasingly difficult preparation process, without the scope of a feature-length production.

Cast and creative team

Gaël Thulliez plays Pedro, the anxious boyfriend at the center of the story, while Noée Andraos plays Layla. Sarine Zeitlian wrote and directed the film, handling both its screenplay and direction.

• Gaël Thulliez as Pedro
• Noée Andraos as Layla

Release and production context

Mr. Setback is a French production from EICAR, performed in English. It is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of September 11, 2026, and has a runtime of nine minutes. The film is classified as a Romance, Comedy and Drama.

Production companies: EICAR

Movies Dock view

Mr. Setback uses a familiar social situation—meeting a partner’s parents—as the basis for a brief story about nerves and avoidance. Its short runtime and focused premise make it a compact relationship-centered film led by Pedro’s struggle to take the next step.

Film data:
TMDB