BFF25: Hamnet

Join as we say farewell to the British Film Festival for another year. Choose between either an afternoon or evening affair with a delicious whisky cocktail or mocktail on arrival, before the Australian premiere of Hamnet, the Paul Mescal-led adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s internationally celebrated novel, directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland).

Australian premiere

1580 England. Impoverished Latin tutor William Shakespeare meets free-spirited Agnes, and the pair, captivated by one another, strike up a torrid affair that leads to marriage and three children. Yet as Will pursues a budding theater career in far-away London, Agnes anchors the domestic sphere alone. When tragedy strikes, the couple’s once-unshakable bond is tested, but their shared experience sets the stage for the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

From Academy Award® winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, The Rider) comes a sensitively observed, magnificently crafted tale about the complexities of love and the healing power of art and creativity.

A luminous adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s internationally celebrated novel, Hamnet reframes the story of William Shakespeare through the eyes of his wife, Agnes, portrayed with breathtaking depth by Jessie Buckley, alongside Paul Mescal’s compelling Shakespeare.

Having premiered at Telluride before winning the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hamnet immerses us in the fragile joys and shattering sorrows of family life in 16th-century Stratford.

Director: Chloé Zhao
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn, Emily Watson, David Wilmot

WINNER | People’s Choice Award, Toronto International Film Festival 2025
OFFICIAL SELECTION | Telluride Film Festival 2025