Hooked film – private screening event in Sheffield pays a fitting tribute to Caleb

On the evening of Friday 22 May, a private screening of a new short film, Hooked, which is a British Film Institute (BFI) shortlisted script, was hosted at the Abbeydale Picture House venue in Sheffield - the screening location purposefully selected to be within a few yards of the filming location for the film on Abbeydale Road.

The film tells the tragic story of Caleb Hancock, who died at the young age of 27. Caleb had been prescribed strong painkillers to manage his headaches which led to a long-term addiction. The medication left Caleb vulnerable and unable to safely navigate his recovery, leading to his death in 2024.

“It shows how easily addiction can happen,” says Jade Strain, the Director and Writer of Hooked, who had a personal connection to Caleb.

In a post-film Q&A, Jade explained how this personal connection to Caleb gave her the impetus to tell his story.

“I thought, right, I’ll do it myself. And I started chatting to people about it, and the filmmaking community, especially in Sheffield, is amazing. Everyone's like, yeah, yeah, we can do it. It kind of spurred me on.”

Macaulay Cooper, whose past credits include roles in Emmerdale and Coronation Street, stars as Jacob in this dramatisation, which is closely based on real events within Caleb’s story (but also the experiences of others). Macaulay explained in a post-film Q&A:

“It's about, unfortunately, the system which failed Caleb, failed my character [Jacob] in the story, and that's where the change needs to be made.”

Hooked tells Jacob’s story, a dramatised account based on Caleb’s experiences, which puts a spotlight on the apparent failings of the health and care system. The film sensitively focuses on the final months of Jacob's life, weaving through key moments that lead to his untimely death.

With a diagnosed mental health condition, Jacob’s addiction is often overlooked or misunderstood. The film encapsulates Jacobs' struggles in trying to gain the right help, at the right time, from the right service.

Caleb’s personal struggles with addiction lasted ‘over 10 years,’ say his family, but in December 2024,  Caleb had started to show signs of progress in his recovery – only for this to be fatally derailed by a GP-approved prescription to Tramadol – a highly potent painkiller. Caleb’s medical notes stated that Tramadol should only be be dispensed to him in small quantities (his addiction to the painkiller had been medically recognised earlier). Tragically, this vital piece of medical information had either been ignored, dismissed, or missed in error as he received a high quantity in the days leading up to his death. This anguish is the basis for the film, highlighting what was and is an avoidable cause of death for many others with similar experiences to Caleb throughout the UK.

Hooked is awaiting its public premiere, and The Forward Trust was grateful to be invited to this warm-hearted and fitting tribute to Caleb, joining his family, friends and film production team for the private screening in his native South Yorkshire.

The film builds on its Sheffield connections, with John McClure of Sheffield indie band Reverend and the Makers, who had also known Caleb and his family personally, kindly gifting a track which appears over the end credits. It’s an endorsement that Jade says Caleb, as a big fan of the band, would have been thrilled about.

Despite the obvious tragedy within Caleb’s story, this was a proud and often uplifting event, allowing friends and family to celebrate his life. The private screening was a timely opportunity for the project team to share the film - in private - for the first time since its production. The film continues with post-production work before its public release (date tbc).

The Forward Trust’s involvement was made following an approach by Jade and her team to be involved as project partners. This South Yorkshire-based film project noted the importance of including a national organisation within its promotion to support others who may be struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

The Forward Trust will continue to keenly track the progress of the film, and will share further details about its public release in the coming months.

Useful links

Drug and alcohol services of The Forward Trust

You can find out more about drug and alcohol support services delivered by The Forward Trust – including in several regions of England and Wales – on our support pages.

Hooked – media and project website

The project and Caleb’s story has already received media interest, including from ITV News:

You can find out more about the film and plans for the public release below:
Cast & Crew – Hooked The Short Film

Photo gallery

Credit: Photos shared with the kind permission of Myles Fitzpatrick

Cast and crew of Hooked film - private screening in Sheffield - May 2026

Director Jade Strain (left) was delighted with the turnout

Joanne, Caleb's Mother, read a poignant tribute to his life and the events leading to his death before the private screening

Private screening of Hooked film at Abbeydale Picture House - May 2026

A photo of Caleb appears at the end of Hooked, private screening event - May 2025

The Q&A followed the private screening of Hooked - letting cast and crew explain more about the film production and the approach of converting the script into the powerful film that was shown