Imran Perretta Named to 2026 BAFTA Breakthrough Cohort

British cinema has seen a steady rise in international attention for debut features in recent years. Writer and director Imran Perretta has joined the 2026 U.K. BAFTA Breakthrough cohort, a program backed by Netflix.

Perretta’s recognition follows the festival run of his debut film, Ish, which won the audience award at the 2025 Venice Critics’ Week. The movie stars Farhan Hasnat, Yahya Kitana, and Sudha Bhuchar. It tells the story of two teenage friends, Ish and Maram, whose bond is tested after a police stop-and-search incident in Luton, a city north of London.

Perretta, a former multidisciplinary artist, described the transition from short works to a feature film as a new experience for him. He stated that while the festival success was anticipated, the theatrical release felt like a fresh start rather than a final milestone. He noted that the film’s box office performance and critical reception surpassed his initial expectations.

The film has found an audience beyond traditional film circles. Perretta said the movie has been screened at activist and community events in Germany, the United States, and Russia. In Paris, programmers selected the film for exhibition during a period of civil unrest, citing its relevance to local debates on policing and community organization.

Perretta attributes the film’s wide appeal to its focus on themes he views as increasingly urgent in Western nations. He pointed to an authoritarian turn in the U.S., France, Italy, and the U.K., where he believes police powers have expanded. He described the experience of surveillance and police interaction as a universal phenomenon that resonates with viewers regardless of the specific location.

Despite the global reception, Perretta maintains that the film’s strength lies in its specific setting. He expressed a desire for Luton to be featured more often in cinema, provided the stories are told with fairness and truth. He encouraged other filmmakers to consider shooting in the area.

Perretta is currently working on several projects, including a Tate Britain exhibition titled The Destructors. The show examines the experience of Asian Muslim men in Britain after the September 11 attacks. He is also developing a new script about property and the British concept of ownership, which he describes as a political exploration of social frictions tied to land and ruling class benefits.