The Education of Jane Cumming
| The Education of Jane Cumming | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Sophie Heldman |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Scotch Verdict by Lillian Faderman |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Kate Reid |
| Edited by | Isabel Meier |
| Music by | Balz Bachman |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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| Countries |
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| Language | English |
The Education of Jane Cumming is a 2026 period drama film directed by Sophie Heldman, co-written by Heldman and Flora Nicholson and Sophie Heldman and based on the book Scotch Verdict by Lillian Faderman. It stars Nicholson, Clare Dunne, Mia Tharia, Fiona Shaw, and Sadie Shimmin.
The film had its world premiere at the Panorama section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 15 February 2026.
Premise
The story is based on the real life story of Marianne Woods and Jane Pirie who were accused of lesbianism in Scotland in the 19th Century.
Cast
- Flora Nicholson as Jane Pirie
- Clare Dunne as Marianne Woods
- Mia Tharia as Jane Cumming
- Fiona Shaw as Lady Cumming Gordon
- Sadie Shimmin as Ann Woods
- Rebecca Martin as Alexandra Dunbar
- Amy Louise Walker as Margot Dunbar
- Eva McMurray as Little Miss Hunter
Production
The film is co-written by Flora Nicholson and Sophie Heldman, with Heldman directing the film and Nicholson also a member of the lead cast. It is adapted from the book, Scotch Verdict by Lillian Faderman. The story was also the inspiration for Lillian Hellman's 1934 play The Children's Hour.[1]
It is a British, German and Swiss co-production. It is produced by Paul Welsh with Bettina Brokemper of Heimatfilm and Karin Koch of Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion. Alongside Flora Nicholson, Charlie Murphy is also in the lead cast.[2][3] Funding also came from the UK Global Screen Fund.[4]
Principal photography took place in Edinburgh, Scotland in April 2025.[5]
Release
The Education of Jane Cumming premiered at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 15 February 2026.[6]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teddy Award | 20 February 2026 | Best Feature Film | Sophie Heldman | Nominated | [7] |
References
- ^ Stephen, Phyllis (April 7, 2025). "Filming of new period drama in Charlotte Square". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ Dalton, Ben (May 19, 2023). "Charlie Murphy, Flora Nicholson to lead 'Miss Pirie And Miss Woods' from 'Winners' producer (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ Tabarra, Mona (May 2, 2025). "UK production spend nearly triples in Q1 of 2025, driven by inward investment". screenglobalproduction.com. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ Calnan, Ellie (June 26, 2025). "'The End Of It' with Rebecca Hall among 11 co-productions backed by UK Global Screen Fund". Screen Daily. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ^ Farr, Jacob (April 7, 2025). "Edinburgh city centre square taken over by film crew shooting period drama". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ "The Education of Jane Cumming - Berlinale". Berlin International Film Festival. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ^ Yossman, K.J. (February 11, 2026). "Berlinale's Teddy Awards Celebrate 40th Anniversary as Queer Cinema Faces Fresh Threats: 'Globally We're Facing a Backlash'". Variety. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
External links
- The Education of Jane Cumming at IMDb
- The Education of Jane Cumming berlinale.de