British feature film I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning premiered at Directors’ Fortnight, at the 2026 edition of the Cannes Film Festival last week, where it received The People’s Choice Award.
Adapted from Kieran Goddard’s book by Enda Walsh and directed by Clio Barnard, the film, set in Birmingham, follows five childhood friends facing the struggles of adult life, and is centred on dynamics of love, ambition and tension in the context of a failed modern-day capitalist model that favours the gig economy over community values.
The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw gives it 5 stars (‘With warmth and heartfelt passion, and a quintet of outstanding performances from young actors’) as did Screen Daily among others. Rotten tomatoes gave it a score of 91%, the film ‘seems to touch audiences and leave a contemplative euphoria hours after’.
United Agents had a host of talented HODs on the film including Director of Photography Simon Tindall, who has previously collaborated with Clio Barnard on series 2 & 3 of Sherwood; editor Maya Maffioli, who edited feature film Ali & Ava (2021) for Clio Barnard as well as series 2 of Sherwood, and Costume Designer Matthew Price, who has previously worked for Clio Barnard on feature film Dark River.
United Agents cast includes the brilliant Millie Brady and Ryan Walker-Edwards.
I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning will next be seen at the BFI’s London Film Festival in October 2026.
