On Falling is a 2024 social realist drama film, written and directed by and starring Joana Santos. A British-Portuguese co-production, the film is Carreira's debut feature.
It had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, also screening at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival, where Carreira won the Silver Shell for Best Director. It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom and Portugal, respectively on 7 March 2025 and 27 March 2025. Santos won the Sophia Award for Best Actress for her leading role in the film.
Plot Set in Scotland, the plot follows the plight of Portuguese immigrant and warehouse worker Aurora, trapped in a life governed by wage slavery and social isolation and its repercussions, leading to her emotional breakdown.
Cast Joana Santos as Aurora
Production The film is a British-Portuguese co-production by Sixteen Films and Bro Cinema, and it had support from BFI, BBC Film, Screen Scotland and . It was the feature film debut for Carreira, previously known for her shorts The Shift and Red Hill.
Release On Falling had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival as part of its Discovery programme. It was presented at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival on 24 September 2024, in competition for the Golden Shell; Carreira took the award for Best Director (ex-aequo) at the festival. It featured in the First Feature Competition of the 2024 BFI London Film Festival. where it was awarded the Sutherland prize for Best First Feature.
Conic acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights, and released it theatrically on 7 March 2025. It opened in Portuguese theatres on 27 March 2025. It also landed a distributor in the Benelux (Vedette), former Yugoslavia (MCF), Greece (Cinobo), Middle East (Teleview), Spain (Vértigo, which scheduled a 19 September 2025 theatrical release date), and Switzerland (Frenetic).
Reception Critical response
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "a very impressive debut".
Matthew Joseph Jenner of International Cinephile Society rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, writing that it "conveys a very clear message and delivers it with genuine affection and attention to detail, which is important for a story that carries such resonance".
Fionnuala Halligan of ScreenDaily pointed out how the film grows to become "an intense, enveloping experience".
Sophie Monks Kaufman of IndieWire gave the film an 'A-' rating, deeming it to be "far better than anything living-political-legend Loach made during the final innings of his career".
David Katz of Cineuropa declared the film "laudably a protest film clamouring for a better way of life, but it still evokes a story's first act mistaken for a whole feature".
Accolades
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result San Sebastián International Film Festival 28 September 2024 Golden Shell On Falling RTVE-Another Look Award – Special Mention Silver Shell for Best Director Laura Carreira BFI London Film Festival 20 October 2024 Sutherland Award for Best First Feature On Falling BAFTA Scotland Awards 16 November 2025 Best Feature Film Best Writer (Film/Television) Laura Carreira British Independent Film Awards 30 November 2025 Best Director Best Screenplay Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) Best Debut Screenwriter European Film Awards 17 January 2026 European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCIOn Falling Goya Awards 28 February 2026 Best European Film Sophia Awards 15 May 2026 Best Film On Falling Best Director Laura Carreira Best Original Screenplay Laura Carreira Best Actress Joana Santos Best Editing Helle Le Fevre
See also List of British films of 2025 List of Portuguese films of 2025
References
External links