Overview

L’Odeur du Kérosène (The Smell of Kerosene) is a French-language short drama directed by Armin Mobasseri, co-written with Mark Esper. A father and his young daughter sit trapped inside a car on an airport runway in a standoff that exposes the fractures of a family in crisis. What unfolds in the confined space of the vehicle reveals the distance between what a parent says and what a child understands.

Production

The film was shot at the Off-Courts short film festival in Trouville-sur-Mer, France in September 2024, where it premiered under its original title Décollage (Take-Off). I co-wrote the screenplay with director Armin Mobasseri ahead of the shoot.

Post Production

Following the festival premiere, the film underwent an extended post-production period through 2025, with colour grading by Emma Meerjanssen and a sound mix and score by Akkor (Üstün Yıldırım). The finished film entered the festival circuit in 2026.

Festivals

• Off-Courts Short Film Festival, France — Premiere (2024, as Décollage)
• ALTER-NATIVE 34 International Short Film Festival, Romania — Official Selection (2026)