EFM 2026: 20 buzz titles from the UK

Screen presents a selection of the buzziest projects from UK available to international buyers at this year’s European Film Market (EFM, February 12-18).

The Cycle Of Love

Dir. Orlando von Einsiedel
This documentary from UK filmmaker von Einsiedel, director of 2017 Oscar-winning short The White Helmets, follows an Indian street artist who sets off with a bicycle on a 6,000‑mile journey across Asia and Europe to unite with the woman who captured his heart on her trip to India. It is produced by von Einsiedel’s Grain Media and Kalabati Pictures, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas an executive producer.
Contact: Dogwoof

The Exiles

Dir. Midi Z
Sam Worthington, David Duchovny and Ke-Xi Wu star in this crime thriller inspired by true events about an ill-fated pursuit of greener pastures in Asia. Taiwan’s Midi Z (Cannes 2019 drama Nina Wu) makes his English-language debut with the project, which he also produced with Kindred Spirit’s Anita Gou, Tom Heller and Claudia Tseng; Killer Films’ Christine Vachon is among the executive producers. Production is underway in Taiwan, and CAA Media Finance represents US rights.
Contact: Mister Smith Entertainment 

Faith

Dir. Paul Andrew Williams
Erin Doherty (Adolescence) and James McAvoy lead the cast of the next film from UK filmmaker Williams, after Tribeca and Edinburgh premiere Dragonfly. A single mother meets an enigmatic stranger, bringing an exciting dynamic to her life. Producers are Dominic Tighe of Giant Productions and Danny Page of Homefront Productions and Blazing Griffin. The supernatural drama is in production in the UK. Bankside Films is co-repping sales with France’s Logical Pictures Group.
Contact: Bankside Films

Gerron’s Last Film

Dir. Simon Curtis
Josh Gad stars in a drama inspired by the true story of Kurt Gerron, one of the most famous Jewish actors and directors in pre-Nazi Germany, and his experience in Czech ghetto and concentration camp, Theresienstadt (Terezin) Ghetto, where he is asked to direct a propaganda film. Producers are Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman-Keren of Pie Films. CAA Media Finance and WME Independent represent North American rights. UK filmmaker Curtis’s credits include Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Gerron’s Last Film plans to shoot later in the year in Germany and the Czech Republic.
Contact: Rocket Science

The Girl

Dir. Marina Ziolkowski
César-nominated Marina Ziolkowski’s feature debut focuses on the 1977 Roman Polanski scandal, based on the memoir about the then-teenager at the centre of it, Samantha Geimer. Dree Hemingway, Gore Abrams and Carolyn Kachen star. Producers are Philippe Gompel and Jean-Baptiste Babin for France’s Backup Media. It is co-produced by Genevieve Lemal for Scopes Pictures (Belgium), alongside Antonio Medici for Bim Distribuzione (Italy).
Contact: WestEnd Films 

Happy

Dir. John Carroll Lynch
Asa Butterfield, Mark Strong, Kyra Sedgwick and Brittany O’Grady star in a comedy about a terrible first meeting with a partner’s parents. BCDF Pictures (To Leslie) produces the follow-up for actor Lynch to his directorial debut Lucky, which premiered at SXSW in 2017. His recent acting credits include Eva Victor’s Sorry, Baby.
Contact: Embankment Films 

Hive

Dir. Farren Blackburn
Dougray Scott leads this survival thriller set in a remote medical research facility, which houses enormous swarms of deadly hornets, the key to a revolutionary medical breakthrough. A band of thieves executes a daring heist to capture the formula. Marching Powder writer Nick Love has penned the script, with Altitude producing alongside Tea Shop Productions (Giant, 47 Meters Down) and Rogue State Films. Blackburn’s credits include TV series Gangs Of London.
Contact: Altitude: info@altitudefilment.com

Ithaqua

Dir. Casey Walker
During the decline of the fur trade in 1800s Canada, survivors of a remote outpost are plagued by an ancient evil. Luke Hemsworth headlines this recently completed horror pic, which is the first film produced by the revived Hammer Films and Studios banner following its acquisition by John Gore Studios in 2023. Cast also includes Kevin Durand, Leenah Robinson, Pamela Matthews and Michael Pitt.
Contact: Kaleidoscope Film Distribution 

Last Flight

Dir. Babak Anvari
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as a US man who helps persecuted people find safe passage out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Filming for the thriller is planned for May 2026 in the UK, Morocco and Jordan. Two & Two and Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch are producing, with WME Independent representing US rights. UK Iranian filmmaker Anvari won the outstanding British debut Bafta in 2017 for his feature Under The Shadow, and most recently directed SXSW 2025 premiere Hallow Road.
Contact: Protagonist Pictures

Legacy

Dir. David Slade
UK genre filmmaker Slade, whose credits include Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, directs this horror starring Lucy Hale, Anjelica Huston and Jack Whitehall, which shot last year in the UK. Estranged siblings are reunited after the death of their father, who bequeaths them his country estate, but are besieged by a cult. Chris Abernathy and Eric B Fleischman produce via The Wonder Company. UTA Independent Film Group represents North American rights.
Contact: HanWay Films

Lotus

Dir. Phillip Ray Tommy
Jurassic World: Rebirth and Gladiator II stunt performer Tommy makes his directorial debut in this completed UK action thriller, set and shot in Birmingham. It follows an ex-special forces operative who stumbles on a dangerous conspiracy between a corrupt police officer and a local gang to flood the city with a lethal drug. Tommy stars alongside Chi Lewis-Parry, and the producers are Alan McQueen and Tommy’s company Phrato Cinematic Arts.
Contact: Screenbound International Pictures 

A Messy Tribute To Motherly Love

Dir. Dan Geesin
This dark, surrealist Dutch-language drama follows a bereaved man, his mother and his friend in a world where people literally explode from emotional overload. UK Dutch filmmaker Geesin produces alongside Esther Rots through One Day Film and Rots Filmwerk. Juda Goslinga, Yang Ge and Frieda Pittoors star.
Contact: Reason8

No Way Back

Dir. Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam
Horror specialist Jinga Films marks a pivot towards action films with Baljinnyam’s Mongolian feature about a criminal foot soldier who comes to the rescue when his gang are about to kill a mother and child. Uran Sainbileg of IFI Production produces.
Contact: Jinga Films 

The Oldest Person In The World

Dir. Sam Green
Filmed across a decade, this documentary chronicles the ever-changing record holders of the title of oldest person alive. The feature world premiered at Sundance and will play at SXSW in March. US producers are Alison Byrne Fields and Josh Penn. Green is a regular at Sundance, with credits including 32 Sounds, A Thousand Thoughts and The Measure Of All Things.
Contact: MetFilm 

Soon You Will Be Gone And Possibly Eaten

Dir. Egor Abramenko
This sci-fi thriller follows a young couple whose wedding is turned upside down by the arrival of some unexpected guests. Talk To Me’s Sophie Wilde stars. North America is co-repped by Anton, Anony­mous Content and WME Independent. Anton is also producing alongside Eat The Cat, Divide/Conquer, Anony­mous Content and Dawn Olmstead, and production is planned for the spring. Abramenko’s credits include upcoming A24 horror Altar.
Contact: Anton

Unholy Night

Dir. Michael Gabriele
An Italian family’s Christmas Eve turns into a bloody battle for survival in this festive horror, which wrapped recently in Canada. Marc Bendavid and Shailene Garnett star in the directorial debut of Canadian filmmaker Gabriele, who also produces alongside Club Red Productions and Shut Up & Colour Pictures.
Contact: Blue Finch Films 

Unspeakable

Dir. Corinna Faith
A young mother struggles to connect with her newborn baby in the latest feature from Faith, following her 2021 debut The Power. The horror stars Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth) and producers are Rob Watson for Air Street Films and Tristan Goligher for The Bureau Films. Elwen Rowlands co-produces for Little Door Productions.
Contact: WestEnd Films

Untitled Mike Leigh film

Dir. Mike Leigh
Marion Bailey, Paul Jesson, Kate O’Flynn and Alice Bailey Johnson star in the next feature from Leigh, following Hard Truths. Plot is under wraps on the project, which recently wrapped in London. Georgina Lowe produces the Film4-backed feature for Thin Man Films, in association with Desmar, Merino Films, Ventureland and Creativity Media. Gail Egan is executive producer. Bleecker Street will release the new film in the US and Studiocanal in UK-Ireland.
Contact: Cornerstone Films 

You’ll Never Believe Who’s Dead

Dir. Dallan Shovlin 

Ardal O’Hanlon, Michelle Fairley, Simone Kirby, Peter Claffey, Ruth Codd and Stephen Rea star in this feature about an Irish family who reunite for Christmas, where talk turns to a local robbery. After discussing how they could do a better job, they accidentally put their theory to the test.
Contact: Bankside Films

The Void

Dir. Simon Ross
Virginia Gardner, Aneurin Barnard and Richard Brake star in this UK psychological thriller about a decorated special forces soldier who is haunted by a tragic mission in Syria that left his entire platoon dead, and who feels a compulsive urge to jump whenever he is at a height. Lionel Hicks, Alla Belaya and Oliver Brown produce, with the feature is now in post-production.
Contact: AMP International  

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