The Second Time Around: Award-Winning Short Film About an Unexpected Encounter

I have to say, the thumbnail for the charming short film The Second Time Around made it look a little like it might be a horror short, and I almost didn’t watch it.  However, I am so happy it did.  The premise and plot of this short is quite straightforward.  Elle works in a café and has closed up after a long day.  It’s raining hard, so when an older woman knocks on the café door in search of the umbrella she left behind, she takes pity and lets her soggy visitor in.  The rest I will leave to you to discover, but I hope it warms the cockles of your heart as much as it did mine.

The Second Time Around was written and directed by Jack Howard.  It stars Caroline Goodall (The Princess Diaries, Dorian Gray, A Street Cat Named Bob) and Hannah Onslow (Empire of Light, Unicorns), who are both wonderful in their roles.

The film has won numerous awards, including Best Sci-Fi at the HollyShorts Film Festival 2025 and the Grand Prize at The Ealing Film Festival 2025.  Watch The Second Time Around below.