The Lost Princess of Hackney (2026): Cast, Story and Release

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

The Lost Princess of Hackney is a 12-minute British short about an Elvish Princess stranded in the Hackney Marshes. With no magic to take her home, she must look for a new purpose while forming an unexpected connection with a sceptical student filmmaker.

The Lost Princess of Hackney is a 2026 short film written and directed by Fenton Dyer. Its compact premise places a self-proclaimed Elvish Princess in the familiar setting of Hackney Marshes, far from the world she believes is home.

Unable to use magic to return, she faces the practical and personal challenge of finding a reason to remain. The story also centres on an unlikely friendship with a sceptical student filmmaker, creating a meeting between fantasy identity and everyday uncertainty.

The Lost Princess of Hackney movie details

Story without spoilers

The film follows Elenya, a self-proclaimed Elvish Princess who becomes stranded in the Hackney Marshes. Her lack of magic leaves her unable to go home, so she begins searching for purpose in an unfamiliar world.

Along the way, Elenya develops an unlikely friendship with a sceptical student filmmaker. The setup suggests a focused short-form story about displacement, belief and connection, while keeping its attention on the relationship at the centre of the premise.

What to expect

At 12 minutes, The Lost Princess of Hackney is structured as a concise short rather than a feature-length fantasy. Its premise combines an Elvish Princess, a contemporary London setting and a friendship between two people who approach her story from different perspectives.

The film’s fantasy element is presented through Elenya’s identity and her missing magic, while the Hackney Marshes provide the grounded setting described in the synopsis. Viewers can expect a character-led story built around being stranded, searching for purpose and earning trust across a sceptical divide.

Cast and creative team

Genevieve Kent plays Elenya, the self-proclaimed Elvish Princess at the centre of the story. Liv Wright plays Maia, while Hayden J. Weal appears as Elenya’s Brother. Charlie Oram-Adams is credited as Orc.

Anne Kato-Smith and Sam Watson play Student Filmmaker roles. Fenton Dyer wrote and directed the film, overseeing both its screenplay and direction.

• Genevieve Kent as Elenya
• Liv Wright as Maia
• Hayden J. Weal as Elenya's Brother
• Charlie Oram-Adams as Orc
• Anne Kato-Smith as Student Filmmaker
• Sam Watson as Student Filmmaker

Release and production context

The Lost Princess of Hackney is a United Kingdom production released in 2026. It has a runtime of 12 minutes and is presented as a short film. The supplied information does not specify a spoken language or production company.

Movies Dock view

With its brief runtime and distinctive premise, The Lost Princess of Hackney brings fantasy imagery into a recognisable Hackney setting. Its story is built around Elenya’s separation from home and the connection she forms while trying to understand what purpose might look like in a world without magic.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb