The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford


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.
The film will have its world premiere at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Big Screen Competition on 30 January 2026.

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

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.

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.

Release

The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford had its world premiere on 30 January 2026, at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam.