The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford
| The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Seán Dunn |
| Written by | Seán Dunn |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | David Gallego |
| Edited by | Shakti Bhagchandani |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Mubi |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford is a 2026 British dark comedy film directed by Seán Dunn. It stars Peter Mullan, Gayle Rankin, Jakob Oftebro, Sid Sagar, and Lewis MacDougall. The film explores themes of ageing, identity, and the blurred boundary between history and fantasy.[1]
The film had its world premiere at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Big Screen Competition on 30 January 2026.[2]
Premise
Set in a Scottish village, the film follows Kenneth, a grieving tour guide devoted to the legacy of Sir Douglas Weatherford, an eighteenth-century inventor and philosopher who is the town’s principal historical figure. Kenneth works at a visitors’ centre dedicated to Weatherford and performs tours dressed as him. When a fantasy television series begins filming in Arberloch and eclipses the town's local mythology, Kenneth’s world begins to collapse.
Cast
- Peter Mullan as Kenneth
- Jakob Oftebro
- Gayle Rankin
- Sid Sagar
- Lewis MacDougall
Production
The film was shot on location in Scotland and was produced by Alex Polunin for Ossian Pictures, Scott Macaulay for Forensic Films and Jennifer Monks for The Fold. The project was developed with BBC Film and co-financed by the BFI Film Fund, BBC Scotland and Screen Scotland.[3]
Sales and distribution
Charades boarded the film for international sales, excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland. Mubi acquired theatrical distribution rights for the UK and Ireland ahead of the film’s premiere.[4]
Release
The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford had its world premiere on 30 January 2026, at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam.[5]
Accolades
| Year | Award / Festival | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | International Film Festival Rotterdam | VPRO Big Screen Award | The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford | Nominated | [6] |
References
- ^ "The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford". International Film Festival Rotterdam. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ Goerg Szalai (16 December 2025). "Rotterdam Film Fest IFFR Sets Competition Lineup, Opening and Closing Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
- ^ "Ozark and Greatest Showman actors star in The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford". Prolific North. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Charades, Mubi board Sean Dunn's 'The Fall Of Sir Douglas Weatherford' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ Katz, David (16 December 2025). "IFFR unveils its eclectic 2026 competition line-ups". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (16 December 2025). "Rotterdam 2026 Lineup: Charlotte Glynn's 'The Gymnast'; Ana Urushadze's 'Supporting Role' & Tiago Melo's 'Yellow Cake' Set For Competition". Deadline. Retrieved 16 December 2025.