Hamnet

Hamnet

66th TIFF: Greek Premiere
In Hamnet, Chloé Zao brings Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novel to the big screen and looks at the life of William Shakespeare through the eyes of his wife, Agnes. In 16th century England, Agnes, a free-spirited, deeply perceptive woman, falls in love with William, the young Latin teacher, and together, they build a family full of life, children, and ineffable love. When their son, Hamnet, dies at the age of 11, the loss will fracture both their marriage and their own selves, but it will also become the inspiration behind one of the most celebrated works of world literature. Zao follows her characters on a journey from love to loss, and from sorrow to creation, with lyricism and passion. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal bring their characters to life in a way that roots them in humanity, and the combination yields something truly rare and remarkable. Hamnet is a wonderful film about grief, memory, and the transformative power of art – about how an intimate farewell can resonate as something timeless and profoundly human.
Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.
Direction: Chloé Zhao
Script: Chloé Zhao, Maggie O'Farrell
Cinematography: Łukasz Żal
Editing: Chloé Zhao, Affonso Gonçalves
Sound: Johnnie Burn
Music: Max Richter
Actors: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn
Production: Hera Pictures, Neal Street Productions, Amblin Entertainment, Book of Shadows
Producers: Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes
Costumes: Malgosia Turzanska
Production Design: Fiona Crombie
Executive producer: Kristie Macosko Krieger, Chloé Zhao, Laurie Borg
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: UK
Production Year: 2025
Duration: 125'
Distribution in Greece: Tanweer
Contact: Universal Pictures
Awards/Distinctions: People's Choice Best Film Award – Toronto IFF (2025), Mill Valley Film Festival Award for Acting (Jessie Buckley) – Mill Valley FF (2025)

Chloé Zhao

Chloé Zhao (born 1982, Beijing, China) is an acclaimed filmmaker celebrated for her lyrical storytelling and intimate portraits of life on the margins of American society. After studying in the United States, she made her feature debut with Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), followed by The Rider (2017), both praised for their naturalistic style and emotional depth. Her third feature, Nomadland (2020), earned her international acclaim and historic recognition, winning Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director, making her the first Asian woman to receive the latter honor. Known for blending poetic realism with compassionate humanism, Zhao later expanded her scope with Marvel’s Eternals (2021) and the period drama Hamnet (2025).

Filmography

2009 The Atlas Mountains (short)
2010 Daughters (short)
2015 Songs My Brothers Taught Me
2017 The Rider
2020 Nomadland
2021 Eternals
2025 Hamnet