The Education of Jane Cumming
| The Education of Jane Cumming | |
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| Directed by | Sophie Heldman |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Kate Reid |
| Edited by | Isabel Meier |
| Music by | Balz Bachmann |
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| Language | English |
The Education of Jane Cumming is based on a true story and inspired by the book Scotch Verdict by Lillian Faderman. It is a 2026 period drama film directed by Sophie Heldman, co-written by Heldman and Flora Nicholson and stars Nicholson, Clare Dunne, Mia Tharia, Fiona Shaw, and Sadie Shimmin.
The film had its world premiere at the Panorama section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 15 February 2026.
Premise
The story is based on the real life story of Marianne Woods and Jane Pirie who were accused by their pupil Jane Cumming of lesbianism in Scotland in the early 19th Century.
Cast
- Flora Nicholson as Jane Pirie
- Clare Dunne as Marianne Woods
- Mia Tharia as Jane Cumming
- Fiona Shaw as Lady Cumming Gordon
- Sadie Shimmin as Ann Woods
- Rebecca Martin as Alexandra Dunbar
- Amy Louise Walker as Margot Dunbar
- Eva McMurray as Little Miss Hunter
- Frankie Corio as Mary Cunynghame
Production
The film is written by Flora Nicholson and Sophie Heldman, with Heldman directing and Nicholson a member of the lead cast. It is based on a true story and inspired by the book Scotch Verdict by Lillian Faderman. The real-life story was also an inspiration for Lillian Hellman's 1934 play The Children's Hour.[1] William Wyler adapted the play twice into a feature film, These Three (1936) and The Children's Hour (1961) starring Shirley MacLaine and Audrey Hepburn.
It is a German, Swiss and British co-production produced by Bettina Brokemper of Heimatfilm, Karin Koch of Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion and Nadira Murray of Sylph Productions. Alongside Flora Nicholson, Clare Dunne, Mia Tharia and Fiona Shaw are also in the lead cast. Funding also came from the UK Global Screen Fund.[2]
Principal photography took place in Edinburgh, Scotland and surroundings in March and April 2025.[3]
Release
The Education of Jane Cumming had its world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 15 February 2026[4][5] and is currently on festival tour. Its theatrical release in multiple territories is planned for early 2027.[6]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Bunny LGBTQIA+ Film Festival | 24 April 2026 | Best Feature Film | Sophie Heldman | Won | [7] |
| Filmkunstfest MV | 09 May 2026 | Young Talent Award for Best Acting Performance | Mia Tharia | Won | [8] |
| Teddy Award | 20 February 2026 | Best Feature Film | Sophie Heldman | Nominated | [9] |
References
- ↑ Stephen, Phyllis (April 7, 2025). "Filming of new period drama in Charlotte Square". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ↑ Calnan, Ellie (June 26, 2025). "'The End Of It' with Rebecca Hall among 11 co-productions backed by UK Global Screen Fund". Screen Daily. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ Farr, Jacob (April 7, 2025). "Edinburgh city centre square taken over by film crew shooting period drama". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ↑ "The Education of Jane Cumming - Berlinale". Berlin International Film Festival. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (February 15, 2026). "The Education of Jane Cumming review – sexuality, race and a real school scandal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ https://www.screendaily.com/news/the-education-of-jane-cumming-sells-to-key-territories-including-uk-ireland-france/5218445.article
- ↑ https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/a4cb364a_sunny_bunny_festival/
- ↑ https://www.filmland-mv.de/aktuelles-1/35-filmkunstfest-mv-die-preistraegerinnen
- ↑ Yossman, K.J. (February 11, 2026). "Berlinale's Teddy Awards Celebrate 40th Anniversary as Queer Cinema Faces Fresh Threats: 'Globally We're Facing a Backlash'". Variety. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
External links
- The Education of Jane Cumming at IMDb
- The Education of Jane Cumming Berlinale
- The Education of Jane Cumming Melbourne International Film Festival