ACTING
A new film by Sophie Fiennes and Cheek by Jowl
“Describing an actor’s process is notoriously tricky; ACTING instantly soars to the top of the class”
Screen Daily
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ACTING
A new film by Sophie Fiennes and Cheek by Jowl
“Describing an actor’s process is notoriously tricky; ACTING instantly soars to the top of the class”
Screen Daily
In the summer of 2021, Cheek By Jowl joined forces with filmmaker Sophie Fiennes to create the first in-depth documentation of Cheek By Jowl’s unique process and philosophy. The end result is a richly detailed and thrilling celebration of our Artistic Directors’ vital method of creating theatre.
Using four key scenes and several soliloquies from Macbeth, Declan and Nick worked with eight actors over two weeks in Twyford Abbey, a derelict mansion on the outskirts of London. Sophie Fiennes operated as a single shooter with the camera harnessed to her body, offering audiences immersive and privileged access into our Artistic Directors’ work.
After receiving its UK premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), ACTING will receive its international premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) this November. The film will see a limited theatrical release in North America this Spring, beginning with a cinematic premiere on 10 April 2026 in New York City.
ACTING is a co-production of Cheek by Jowl, Amoeba Film, and Lone Star Productions, with support from CHEERIO Publishing and Arts Council England.
| Date | Location | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| 10 April 2026 | Quad Cinema, New York City, USA | Tickets on sale soon |
| 11 April 2026 | Culture Vulture Series, Los Angeles, USA | Tickets on sale soon |
Are you a distributor, theatre or film festival interested in screening ACTING?
Please get in touch:
For sales: Shani Hinton
shanihinton@me.com
For festivals: Martin Rosenbaum martin@lonestarproductions.co.uk
| Name |
|---|
| Grace Andrews |
| David Burnett |
| Amber James |
| Orlando James |
| Sophie Khan Levy |
| Jonathan Livingstone |
| Ekow Quartey |
| Hannah Young |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Declan Donnellan |
| Director | Nick Ormerod |
| Director, Camera, Editor | Sophie Fiennes |
| Assistant Director | Lucinda Dawkins |
| Sound Recording | Richard Eades |
| Sound Recording | Ned Hards |
| Sound Design | Philippe Ciompi |
| Colourist | Alex Seery |
| Producer | Martin Rosenbaum |
| Producer | Shani Hinton |
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| 8 November 2025 | Pozuelo de Alarcon, Teatro MIRA, Spain |
| 4 September 2025 | Venice, Palazzo Diedo, Venice |
| 13 June 2025 | Sofia, Theatre Academy of Sofia, Bulgaria |
| 18 May 2025 | Platres, Platres Cultural Center, Cyprus |
| 16 – 18 May 2025 | New York City, Segal Center, USA |
| 7, 11, 16, 24 May 2025 | London, Ciné Lumière, United Kingdom |
| 27 April 2025 | London, Barbican Cinema, United Kingdom |
| 14-24 November 2024 | Amsterdam, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 18-21 August 2024 | Edinburgh, Edinburgh International Film Festival, United Kingdom |
“Describing an actor’s process is notoriously tricky; Acting instantly soars to the top of the class”
Fionnuala Halligan , Screen Daily. Read the full review
“A celebration of artistic collaboration”
Manuela Lazic, EIFF
“Compelling and moving”
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. Read the full review.



