Satisfaction: On the red carpet with Alex Burunova and Fionn Whitehead at BFI Flare 2026

With a writing process that took over eight years, filmmaker and director Alex Burunova’s ethereal film Satisfaction is steeped in her past memories and experiences about the complexities of relationships, and the ebb and flow of intimate encounters.

Set between two timelines, which are two years apart, the storylines are split by a traumatic event and focus on two main protagonists. Emma Laird steps into the role of Lola, a gifted composer who meets another inspiring musician called Philip (Fionn Whitehead) at a party. The connection brings them together, and they end up moving into a family-owned house on a remote Greek Island. The relationship is fragile, with Lola carving out a sideline romance with a woman she meets at a nudist beach on the Island and bringing her into her relationship with Philip.

The Upcoming had the pleasure of speaking to Burunova about how she chose to shoot the film and the weight of one particular scene that changes the course of the narrative. She also spoke about her casting process and how she felt an instant connection to her two lead storytellers.

Whitehead spoke to us about what appealed to him about the script, his working relationship with the cast and Burunova herself as well as how he prepped for his artistic role by spending time with musical composers in both London and Greece.