My Imaginary Accountant
Format
Feature (90 min)
Logline
A year after her father’s passing, 10-year-old Nikki finds solace in her imaginary friend Asim, a 40-something Pakistani accountant. But when a child therapist enters her life, Nikki faces a choice: confront her father’s death or let go of Asim forever.
Themes
Grief, Comedy, Family, Death, Surrealism, Coming of Age
Concept Art by Kevin Ua-Wanapaksa
Story
My Imaginary Accountant is a warm and imaginative coming of age story set in the beautiful summer British countryside. It follows Nikki, a lonely and troubled ten year old who is still struggling with the loss of her father a year earlier. Nikki escapes into an inner world filled with very grounded imaginary friends, the most important being Asim, a forty something Pakistani accountant with a big heart and an unlikely dream of becoming an astronaut. Asim represents comfort, structure and play, everything Nikki feels she has lost.
The story begins with Nikki clashing with another child at school and retreating into the fields, where Asim appears to lift her spirits by fighting off imaginary ninjas. These playful sequences reveal the way Nikki uses fantasy to process fear, grief and a world that feels unpredictable. At home, her mother Mel gently encourages therapy, but Nikki believes opening up will make Asim disappear forever. When Asim himself suggests that she give it a try, she lashes out and he vanishes from her life, returning in her imagination to Pakistan to help with his sister’s wedding.
As Nikki begins therapy she is pushed to communicate her feelings for the first time. Guided by Mel and her sessions, she reaches out to Asim with a heartfelt letter that shows her first steps toward honest self expression. The story culminates in a magical final sequence where Asim returns, now on the brink of becoming an astronaut thanks to Nikki’s belief in him. As he prepares for launch, Nikki finally lets him go, asking him to say hello to her dad. The moment blurs reality and imagination, marking her shift from anger to acceptance and the beginning of genuine healing.
Look & Feel
Humour often emerges from darkness, and in tough times, laughter can be a powerful coping mechanism. This is the message I aim to convey. Nikki’s way of dealing with loss differs from her mother’s expectations, showing that there’s no right or wrong way to grieve as long as we find closure.
Comedy opens minds and challenges mentalities, making it an effective tool for social change. It’s an approachable genre that can showcase diversity and overlooked ideas, unlike more ‘ac- ademic’ material. The film will have a whimsical feel, blending magical realism to represent Nikki’s world. Her imagined people and spaces become believable, reflecting her personal way of experiencing life.
Set in the British countryside, the film creates a vibrant, colorful world where everything seems perfect—until adults intervene out of genuine care for Nikki. A pastel color palette and still camerawork evoke nostalgia and a connection to nature. Energetic editing captures youthful exuberance, and the set will be a fun, childlike space, echoing films like E.T. and The Iron Giant.
“My Imaginary Accountant” aims to make you laugh and cry, offering a heartfelt story of finding hope in difficult times through Nikki’s journey toward acceptance and healing, blending emotional scenes with surreal, comedic dialogue.