This Time, I Mean It (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

This Time, I Mean It is a 15-minute British comedy-drama romance about Sam, who races against time to prevent his girlfriend Claire from leaving his life. Written and directed by Hari Sharma, the short film introduces a time-loop premise around a relationship under pressure.

This Time, I Mean It is a 2026 comedy-drama romance short from the United Kingdom. At 15 minutes, it centers on Sam and the urgent problem threatening his relationship with Claire.

Written and directed by Hari Sharma, the film uses a time-loop element within its romantic premise. Its title and tagline suggest a story that balances emotional stakes with a lightly comic perspective.

This Time, I Mean It movie details

Story without spoilers

Sam must fight against time to stop his girlfriend, Claire, from leaving his life forever. The supplied premise identifies the film as a relationship-focused story shaped by urgency and a time-loop concept, while keeping the specific circumstances and outcome undisclosed.

With its brief runtime, This Time, I Mean It appears structured around a concentrated emotional conflict rather than a broad ensemble narrative. The central question is whether Sam can change what is happening before he loses Claire.

What to expect

Viewers can expect a compact blend of comedy, drama and romance, with the time-loop keyword pointing to a repeated or time-related element in the story. The short format places the focus on Sam and Claire, while the premise provides a clear countdown-like source of tension.

The tagline, “This Time, he means it, probably…,” indicates a playful tone alongside the film’s more serious relationship stakes. Beyond that, the supplied information does not specify the film’s visual approach, structure or ending.

Cast and creative team

Matthew Howell plays Sam, the character racing to keep his relationship from ending. Ioanna Xideris plays Claire. Hari Sharma wrote and directed the film, making the project a concise example of a short-form comedy-drama romance shaped by a single creative lead.

• Ioanna Xideris as Claire
• Matthew Howell as Sam

Release and production context

This Time, I Mean It is listed as a United Kingdom production from H for Hari Entertainment. It has a 15-minute runtime and a release date of September 11, 2026. The supplied metadata lists the film’s status as Released and identifies its genres as Comedy, Drama and Romance.

Production companies: H for Hari Entertainment

Reported production figures:
Budget $500

Movies Dock view

This Time, I Mean It offers a focused premise: a man confronting the pressure of losing his relationship, with a time-loop concept adding a speculative element to the romantic drama. Its short runtime and small central cast make it a clearly contained story led by Sam and Claire.

Film data:
TMDB