Ted Evans Joins BAFTA Breakthrough List as Retreat Heads Toward Cinema Release

British writer-director Ted Evans has been named to the 2026 U.K. BAFTA Breakthrough list following his debut feature, Retreat, a thriller set at an isolated wellness retreat for Deaf people. The list, supported by Netflix, was announced on Wednesday, November 4. Evans is also developing a horror project with BBC Film.

Retreat follows a young woman whose arrival at the remote setting leads to an experience that defies expectations. Its cast includes Anne Zander, James Joseph Boyle and Sophie Stone, with Deaf performers in all the leading roles. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Evans described the BAFTA recognition as an unexpected honor and said sharing it with Stone made it particularly meaningful.

The feature shares its title with a short Evans made about 14 years ago on a minimal budget. Although that earlier film found an audience within the community, he felt there was more to explore. A decade of development produced a feature with substantially different themes. Stone appeared in both, but Evans said the stronger connection was the collaboration among the filmmakers and actors rather than the stories themselves.

Evans, who is Deaf, said bringing his community's experiences, languages and culture to the screen was central to his work. Retreat also involved Deaf talent behind the camera, including sign language directors, assistant directors and runners. His previous credits include short films and the television documentary Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change.

Working with a visual language has deepened his understanding of filmmaking, Evans said, particularly the relationship between continuity, rhythm and visual grammar. Each shot and take must preserve the flow of signing. He contrasted that process with spoken dialogue, which filmmakers can replace during postproduction through automated dialogue replacement.

British Sign Language is the main language in Retreat, but the film includes several languages, including German. Evans explained that American Sign Language differs significantly from British Sign Language, while Australia's Auslan is related to BSL. He emphasized that these are distinct languages in their own right.

Through BAFTA Breakthrough, Evans hopes to meet more experienced industry figures, build connections and explore possibilities for his next projects. He said he has several ideas, though the horror film with BBC Film remains at a very early stage. His ambitions include further work within the Deaf community as well as opportunities beyond it.

Retreat had its world premiere in Toronto and has since traveled internationally, with a cinema release planned for early 2027. Evans hopes it will entertain both Deaf audiences and the wider public while prompting reflection on choice, identity and the influence of community and experience. Beyond delivering suspense, he wants viewers to consider what happens when a defining part of someone's life is removed.