ABOUT Theo
THEO reading part of the poem ICARUS by Kae Tempest, their favourite poem…
Theo Khelfoune Ferreras
Biggest passions
Theo (he/they) was born in 2003 in Spain, lived in different countries (Mauritania, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Vietnam) and moved to the UK when he was 10. They studied at Mulberry UTC in London and graduated from the BRIT School in Film and Media Production with a ‘Distinction’ in 2021. At the moment of passing, they were studying Film Studies at Brighton University.
Using Theo’s own words
(written in 2018):
‘Film and photography are and have been my biggest passions for as long as I can remember (…). My first introduction to film was with Hayao Miyazaki’s films. This, I believe, really shaped me to be the person I am today. Hayao’s films did not portray young people as helpless, stupid and scared but as curious, adventurous and brave; this was the same for the girl characters too (…). I felt that I was growing with his films starting (…). He is my role model because of how he turned the pain and trauma he went through as a child into something beautiful and moving. (…) Another reason why he is my role model is because of how dedicated and one would argue stubborn he was about his passion (Anime and film)’.
Theo was more than just insanely kind. He was curious about everything and everyone- no one ever had a boring conversation with him because he asked the best questions and felt strongly about everything. He never shied away from awkward topics. He was a crazy character; incredibly funny on purpose and because he was unpredictable and honest and clumsy and silly and enthusiastic.
He lived like he was invincible, and he did something ridiculous but harmless every day. He would swim in freezing water, cause accidents when cooking, and could always be found speaking to the weirdest most unapproachable person in the room. Everything always went a little bit wrong and he was always giggling and then it became happy and alright. This made everything a cartoonish adventure.
Theo Khelfoune was an old friend of mine. We met when we were 13, remaining inseparable for a number of years until we naturally grew apart into strangers. Our lives, however, remained fully intertwined, as we moved to secondary school and sixth form together, as well as having some close mutual friendships. He was a committed photographer, filmmaker and activist’
His passion for photography and film ran through everything he did, and every friendship he had. We bonded over their creative passions, attending three schools together to explore and push our creative interests, during our teenage years.
In March of this year (2023), he took his own life. A few days after his death, a comment was made; ‘all he would want is for his art to be remembered’. This struck a chord with me, and this is my way of savouring his memory, and his art, and raising awareness for the current suicide pandemic.
