Ted Evans, the British writer-director behind the genre-bending thriller Retreat, has been named to the 2026 U.K. BAFTA Breakthrough list, supported by Netflix. The recognition places him among a group of rising talents that includes his lead actress, Sophie Stone. For Evans, the honor is both a surprise and a platform for his broader vision of deaf cinema.
A Decade-Long Journey from Short to Feature
Retreat is billed as the world’s first deaf thriller. It follows a young woman who arrives at a remote wellness retreat for Deaf people, only to find that nothing is as it seems. The film stars Anne Zander, James Joseph Boyle, and Sophie Stone, and has been noted as a hidden gem.
The feature shares its title with a short Evans made roughly 14 years ago on a shoestring budget. That early version, centered on a community, performed well within Deaf circles but left him unsatisfied. He spent the following decade reworking the concept, which evolved thematically into something entirely different. While the title and Stone’s involvement remain, the two projects are not directly connected. Instead, Evans describes the origin as filmmakers and actors coming together to build something new.
Sign Language as a Filmmaking Teacher
For Evans, working with sign language has fundamentally shaped his approach to directing. He explains that continuity must be maintained across every shot and take, with careful attention to rhythm and visual grammar. Unlike spoken-language films, where dialogue can be replaced in post-production through ADR, sign language leaves no such room for adjustment. That constraint, he says, has deepened his understanding of the medium.
Behind the camera, the production also prioritized Deaf talent, including sign language directors, assistant directors, and runners. Evans grew up in the Deaf community and is passionate about what he calls “sign language cinema.” He sees film as a way to showcase the full diversity of human experience and to bring Deaf languages and culture to the big screen.
Multiple Languages, One Thrilling Ride
Retreat features several sign languages, with British Sign Language as its primary focus. Evans notes that American Sign Language differs significantly from BSL, and that more countries are influenced by ASL. Australia’s Auslan is related to BSL, but each remains a distinct language. The film also incorporates German. He draws a parallel to Hand Talk, a sign language once used by Native American tribes to communicate across different communities.
Evans hopes the film resonates with two audiences: his own community and the wider world. He wants viewers to enjoy a thrilling ride first, then discover deeper layers about choice, identity, and what happens when part of your community or experience is removed. Retreat will be released in cinemas early next year, following a world premiere at Toronto and a year of international festival travel.
What Comes Next
As part of BAFTA Breakthrough, Evans plans to absorb as much as possible, network with more experienced industry figures, and explore new opportunities. He describes his slate as healthy and confirms that a horror project is in very early development with BBC Film. He is also eager to work more within the Deaf community while branching out to broader audiences.
For Evans, the BAFTA recognition is not just a personal milestone but a moment to continue building a cinema that reflects Deaf stories, languages, and culture on their own terms.
