BAFTA Breakthrough Ted Evans Shares What Sign Language Taught Him About Film – and What's Next After 'Retreat'

The British writer-director, featured on the 2026 U.K. BAFTA Breakthrough list, supported by Netflix, also tells THR how "I always feel I have two audiences" and about his vision for "sign language cinema.". BAFTA Breakthrough Ted Evans Shares What Sign Language Taught Him About Film – and What’s Next After ‘Retreat’.

‘Retreat’ film still Courtesy of BFI Share on Facebook Share on X Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment A young woman arrives at a remote wellness retreat for Deaf people, but nothing is what it seems. If you don’t immediately recognize this set-up, you most likely haven’t seen Retreat, the genre-bending debut thriller from British writer-director Ted Evans that has left audiences guessing until the very end. Billed as “the world’s first deaf thriller” and starring Anne Zander, James Joseph Boyle and Sophie Stone, Retreat, highlighted by THR as a hidden gem, is also a key reason for Evans to feature on the 2026 U.K.

BAFTA Breakthrough list of rising talent, supported by Netflix, which was unveiled on Wednesday. Related Stories Movies ‘The Incomer’ Attracted Domhnall Gleeson and Moby and Got Its Creator on the BAFTA Breakthrough List. Movies ‘Ish’ Has Resonated Widely Amid "Authoritarian Turn," Says Its BAFTA Breakthrough Writer-Director Among his past work, the creative directed the TV documentary Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change and short films.

THR talked to Evans about making a splash with his first feature, the short he made with the same title, making the BAFTA Breakthrough list, and what’s next. Sorry to say that my sign language is not up to snuff.