Elsinore
Director: Simon Stone, Cinematographer: Mike Eley BSC
StudioCanal and Focus Features. US release: 20th November 2026, UK release: 29th January 2027.
The true story of Ian Charleson, the Chariots of Fire actor who played Hamlet at the National Theatre in the final months of his life while seriously ill with AIDS. Andrew Scott plays Charleson, with Olivia Colman as his doctor, alongside Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn and Joe Locke. Directed by Simon Stone from a screenplay by Stephen Beresford, with Mike Eley BSC as cinematographer.
Festivals and Awards
- World premiere, Telluride Film Festival 2026
- Winner, International People’s Choice Award, Toronto International Film Festival 2026
- Opening Night Gala, 70th BFI London Film Festival
- 12 nominations at the 2026 British Independent Film Awards, more than any other film, including:
- Best British Independent Film
- Best Director (Simon Stone)
- Best Screenplay (Stephen Beresford)
- Best Lead Performance (Andrew Scott)
- Best Supporting Performance (Billie Piper)
- Best Cinematography (Mike Eley BSC)
- Six further craft nominations: casting, costume, editing, make-up and hair, music and production design
Equipment Used
Heavy Lift Drone
Freefly Alta 8: a heavy lifter with a small form factor.
Top speed: 35mph
Flight time: approx 5mins
Payloads: Best paired with Mini LF, Reds and small form cinema cameras with lightweight primes or lightweight spherical zoom lenses.
Special characteristics: Top and bottom camera mount
Under our OSC from the CAA this aircraft can be operated to within 10m horizontal distance from uninvolved people, making it ideal for work in urban areas, where traffic and public cannot be controlled and a small working footprint is needed for the controlled ground area.