The British Film Academy and the British Film Commission have launched a series of films that will form their annual 8-project lineup that will be displayed at the Cannes Film Festival.

These features (from first-time or early-stage professional producers) will be introduced and screened to Cannes buyers and festival programmers, where all eight can be used on the market for distributors on the market.

This year marks the eighth year of BFI and the British Parliament, and it is the eighth year of BBC Movies and Movies 4.

"The eighth edition of Great 8 once again shows that British films are in a state of rude health, and that we can be proud of the upcoming slate," said Briony Hanson, director of film at the Parliament. "Again, this shows the scope of new British talent, with a hard social review along with the vast comedy, representing the voices of England, Scotland and Wales, and a lot of stories that explore the traditionally underdeveloped communities. There is a lot of exciting excitement here - we look forward to sharing eight with eight international colleagues at eight Kannes."

See the 2025 Great 8 lineup below:

“Animol”
U.K.
drama
Director: Ashley Walters
Writer: Nick Love
Producers: Thomas Hawkins, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Nick Love, Ashley Walters
Actors: Tut Nyuot, Vladyslav Baliuk, Stephen Graham, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Sekou Diaby
Production: Sky, Film4, BFI, Joi Productions, Rogue State Productions, Slnda
Sales: Bank Page Movies

Introduction - Animol tells the story of 15-year-old Troy, who was remanded in custody for unsuccessful murder. He was trapped in an institution of notorious young criminals, and he tried to keep his head down and avoid trouble - but it wasn't easy to survive when everyone wanted your stuff. Amid the chaos, Troy discovers an unexpected ally in Krystiyan, another young prisoner struggling to work in the same turbulent world.

“ish”
U.K.
Arrival age
Director: Imran Perretta
Writer: Imran Perrtta, Enda Walsh
Producer: Dhiraj Mahey, Bennett McGhee
Actors: Farhan Hasnat, Yahya Kitana, Avin Shah, Sudha Bhuchar, Joy Crooks, Arman Mohammed,
It's Is'haaq Hasan Haque of Hasnain Shah,
Production: Made from original pictures with the home team chaos. Financier: BBC Movies, BFI. Additional support: Calculus media, failed
Sales: Movie Constellation

Introduction - "ISH" follows two best friends Ish and Maram on the cusp of becoming a teenager. In a society where race profiles ensure brown boys are constantly under surveillance, their friendship stays with traumatic police. ISH soon discovered that "let go" may be the hardest part of growing up.

“Learn to breathe underwater”
United Kingdom/Ireland/Netherlands
drama
Director: Rebecca Fortune
Writer: Richard Brabin
Cast: Rory Kinnear, Maria Caligova, Ezra Carlisle
Producer: Jack Tarling, Patrick O'Neill
Actors: Zubin Varala, Sudha Bhuchar, Sarag Arya, Robert Ryan
Production: Shaking movies and wildcard productions co-produced with KeyFilm & One Wave Films and collaborated with EIRU movies. Financiers: Irish Screen, UK Global Screen Fund, FFILM CYMRU WALES, WRAP FUND, Dutch Film Fund, DIAS FELD, Limited Films, Bankside Films and Thrip Toint Capital.
Sales: Bank Page Movies

Summary - Leo is eight years old, curious, wise and imaginative. His best friend was a giant shark - half statue, half myth - one night his father Peter, stained something he could not say loudly and hit the roof of his house. The world of Leo is full of questions: Why are adults so strange? Where did mom go five years ago? Will Dad fall from the clouds? Or at least remember to shop? Peter is either buried in a large Bunkers art project or can hardly speak, so Leo daydreaming vividly and sharing his secrets with the shark, who may just be listening but can't speak. Anya then breaks into their lives: a pair of vibrant au breaks the silence of her own problems and is more honest than Leo has ever heard of. Her fearless warmth and energy restored their world to color and improved their lives.

"madman"
Wales/UK
Alternative period drama
Director: Celyn Jones
Writer: Lisa Baker
Producer: Sean Marley, Nadia Jaynes
Cast: Callum Scott Howells, Ruby Stokes, Rupert Everett, Paul Rhys, Siobhán Mccsweeney
Made: Crazy Birds, ffilm cymru Wales, Creative Wales
Sales: Crazy like a bird

Introduction - A rampant, uncompromising celebration inspired by the unlikely British aristocracy, dramatically broke his legacy, lived a quick life, died. When the gorgeous Henry Paget arrived in North Wales from France in the 1890s to claim his noble inheritance, his dramatic style and weirdness of resistance caused shock waves through the elite of the upper class, which greatly attracted entertainment from local townspeople. Henry, along with his faithful cousin Lily and faithful Butler Gelert, attempts to carve his identity as the fifth marquis while simultaneously sculpting the cold ambitiousness of his calculated cousin Cousin Neville, and the cruel and ruthless threat. Henry and Lily are together, bringing Henry’s estranged father away from tradition, planning relatives and long shadows together.

"mission"
U.K.
Drama thriller
Director/Writer: Paul Wright
Producers: Kate Byers, Alex Thiele, Linn Waite, Marie-Elena Dyche
Actor: George Mackay
Production: Early Movies, 65 Wild Movies, Meraki Movies, Rapt, BBC Movies, Scottish Screen, FFILM Cymru Wales
Sales: Blue Finch Movie

Introduction - The mission is a punk exploration of psychology, following the alienated Dylan (George McKay) abandons the shackles of lonely life, trying to experience the climax and low points of survival with the most extreme extremes. He is alienated from his sister Claire (Rosy McEwen), and he embarks on an exciting journey of self-discovery, which is both encouraging and terrifying.

"maritime"
U.K.
drama
Director/Writer: Helen Walsh
Producer: David Moores, David A Hughes; Executive Producer: Mike Goodridge, Chris Clark
Actors: Barry Ward, Lorne Macfadyen, Liz White, Henry Lawfull, Celyn Jones
Production: Red Joint Film
Available for sale: Red League movies, so messy

Introduction - Jack has been married to Maggie for more than a lifetime. He worked as a handmade rake on a mussel bed in North Wales with his younger brothers Dyfan and three sons. Jack had always thought his own boy Tom would join the family business and leave school, but Tom's resistance to following in his footsteps would create family tension. Tensions get further inflamed by the arrival of the tour deckman, and he knows how he feels about Jack. In this remote rural community where life revolves around churches and fisheries, Jack faces impossible dilemmas. At the sea, it is a beautiful, sensual, and sometimes a miserable exploration of masculinity, place and desire.

"retreat"
U.K.
Thriller
Director/Writer: Ted Evans
Producer: Michelle Stein, Jennifer Monks
Actors: Anne Zander, James Boyle, Sophie Stone, Ace Mahbaz, Anna Seymour
Production: BFI, BBC Movies and Creative UK presents A-folding and 104 film production
Sales: XYZ Movie

Introduction - Proposed in an isolated community of deaf people, the cracks begin to appear in Matt's seemingly idyllic world when the arrival of the mysterious outsider Eva forces him to question the reality of his identity. Is Matt ready to find a location beneath the surface of what he calls a utopian community and the cost of requiring maintenance?

"Son and the Sea"
U.K.
drama
Director: Stroma Cairns
Writer: Imogen West, Stroma Cairns
Producer: Imogen West, Kelly Peck
Cast Jonah West, Stanley Brock, Connor Tompkins, Grant Lindsay
Production: BBC Films in the studio Cloy, Moment Film Group, Creativity Media, Creativity Capital
Available for Sales: Studio Cloy, a company in the company

Introduction - Jonah (26) has charming ADHD, a man who keeps slipping and falling, while his best companion Lee (26), nimbles up every ladder. After experiencing another bump and under pressure, seeing his aunt lost to dementia, Jonah thinks he and Lee are visiting in the hope that it will also provide a breather for himself and the chaos he has caused. Although the northeast coast of Scotland is not what Lee imagines, it has a certain wildness and miracle. There, they meet Charlie (26), who is deeply deaf, trying to clean up after his dark twin brother. Through their ever-evolving friendships, the three boys form a connection that encourages them to step out of their childhood and find courage becomes vulnerable, despite the loss of this joy.