Urchin | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Harris Dickinson |
Written by | Harris Dickinson |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Josée Deshaies |
Edited by | Rafael Torres Calderón |
Music by | Alan Myson |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Picturehouse Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 99 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Urchin is a 2025 British drama film written and directed by Harris Dickinson, in his feature-length directorial debut, and starring Frank Dillane, Megan Northam, Karyna Khymchuk, Shonagh Marie and Amr Waked.
The film had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2025, where Dickinson won the FIPRESCI Prize and Dillane won the Best Actor award. [1] [2] [3]
Michael barely scrapes by, surviving at the very edge of society in a world that is brutal and indifferent. After a tense incident lands him in prison, he tries to piece his life back together — entering rehab, looking for work, and attempting to reconnect with people. [4]
The film was directed by Harris Dickinson in his feature length debut. [5] It was produced by Devisio Pictures, a production company Dickinson launched with producer Archie Pearch. [6] Dickinson has described it as being about mental health and "people who fall between the cracks" and "the ways in which the system fails people in certain ways.” [7] Scott O’Donnell served as a producer on the film which received British Film Institute (BFI) Filmmaking Fund production support in 2024. [8]
The cast was led by Frank Dillane and included Megan Northam, Amr Waked, Karyna Khymchuk and Shonagh Marie. [9]
Principal photography began in London in June 2024. [10] In January 2025, Dickinson confirmed on the Empire Magazine podcast that the film was in post-production. [11]
Urchin premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2025. [12]
In July 2025, 1-2 Special acquired distribution rights to Urchin in North America and has plans to release the film sometime in fall 2025. [13] Later that month, Picturehouse Entertainment acquired UK and Irish distribution rights to the film, scheduling it for a theatrical release on October 3, 2025. [14]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 96% of 26 critics' reviews are positive. [15] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [16] Time Out Magazine compared it to the work of Andrea Arnold and suggested that "Dillane has an uncanny ability to make us sympathise with Mike – even when he’s acting heinously." [17] Dirty Movies compared it to Quadrophenia , [18] while Far Out Magazine described it as "one of the best directorial debuts" from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. [19] Showbiz by PS praised Dickinson for steering away from clichés and delving into deeper societal commentary through its supporting characters. [20]
Award / Festival | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
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Cannes Film Festival | 23 May 2025 | Un Certain Regard Award | Harris Dickinson | Nominated | [1] |
Un Certain Regard – Best Actor | Frank Dillane | Won | [21] | ||
24 May 2025 | Camera d'Or | Harris Dickinson | Nominated | [1] | |
FIPRESCI Prize (Un Certain Regard) | Won | [3] | |||
Miskolc International Film Festival | 13 September 2025 | Emeric Pressburger Prize | Urchin | Pending | [22] |
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