Harris Dickinson’s Directorial Debut ‘Urchin’ Gets 5-Minute Cannes Standing Ovation, Plus Lots of Love From Paul Mescal

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Harris Dickinson, known for his roles in ‘Triangle of Sadness’ and ‘Babygirl’, captivated audiences at Cannes with his first directorial venture titled ‘Urchin.’

The movie, featuring Frank Dillane from “Fear the Walking Dead” and offering a powerful depiction of homelessness and mental health struggles in London’s streets, made its global debut at the Un Certain Regard competition, where it received an energized 5-minute standing ovation for its director and cast.

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In the Un Certain Regard competition, “Urchin”, a film starring Frank Dillane from “Fear the Walking Dead” and showcasing homelessness and mental health issues in London, had its world premiere to great applause. The movie’s director and cast were given a heartfelt 5-minute ovation by the audience.

Dickinson looked relieved at the reception, waving across the room to whoops from the crowd.

It’s truly a privilege for me to be here and to share this experience with all of you. This moment is particularly meaningful,” he shared with the crowd prior to the screening. “I must admit, I’m feeling quite apprehensive. I sincerely hope you will enjoy it, but if for some reason you don’t, please let us know in a kind manner.

Based on the reaction, it appears that many people didn’t care for it. Among those who applauded was Paul Mescal, who will soon share the screen with Dickinson in a series of four upcoming films about The Beatles (Dickinson portrays John Lennon while Mescal plays Paul McCartney). After the screening, they were spotted hugging and leaving the theater hand-in-hand.

As a film enthusiast, I’d put it this way: “In ‘Urchin,’ written by Dickinson, I find myself drawn to the gritty streets of London where Dillane portrays Mike, a homeless man trying to break free from a self-destructive cycle after serving time in prison. The film is both raw and absurdly real, mirroring the bizarre loops that can ensnare us. Alongside Dillane, Megan Northam, Amr Waked, Karyna Khymchuk, and Shonagh Marie bring their talents to this captivating narrative.

Three years after his breakout role in Ruben Ostlund’s “Triangle of Sadness,” which won the Palme d’Or and catapulted him to stardom, Dickinson returned to Cannes with the film “Urchin.” Since then, he has been featured in several other productions such as “Where the Crawdads Sing” alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones, the wrestling drama “The Iron Claw” starring Zac Efron, Steve McQueen’s WWII film “Blitz,” and last year’s “Babygirl” with Nicole Kidman. Production for “Urchin,” which is part of Dickinson’s newly established production company Devisio, began after he completed shooting “Babygirl” in early 2024.

The production titled “Urchin” was created by Archie Pearch for Devisio Pictures and Scott O’Donnell for Somesuch. This project is backed by BBC Film, with funding also provided by BFI and Tricky Knot. The executive producers are Eva Yates, Ama Ampadu, Alexandra Tynion, and Olivia Tyson. Filming for this production was carried out in East London.

“Urchin” is currently being sold worldwide by Charades.

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2025-05-17 14:16