An independent British feature film centering on mental health and human connection premiered in the East Midlands on Monday, November 2, 2026, bringing Leicester native Hannah Walters back to her hometown screen. Phoenix Cinema hosted the screening for Amazing Grace, midlandsmovies.com reported.
The Bottom Line
- Amazing Grace screened at Leicester’s Phoenix Cinema on Monday, November 2, 2026, featuring local actress Hannah Walters.
- The independent British drama follows an isolated man confronting trauma who connects with a crisis helpline volunteer, working alongside Samaritans to raise awareness.
- Following its Leicester debut, the film heads to preview screenings and film festivals in New Brighton, Birmingham, and Prestatyn through November 2026.
A Homegrown Return to Phoenix Cinema
The new feature stars Hannah Walters alongside Daniel P. Lewis. Walters brings her extensive screen background, known for roles in This Is England, Boiling Point, A Thousand Blows, and Netflix’s Adolescence, to the intimate regional venue. The supporting cast features BAFTA-winning actress Chanel Cresswell from This Is England ’90 and BAFTA-nominated actor James Nelson-Joyce from This City Is Ours.
Directing the project is Ruth Carney, whose extensive television credits include Shetland, Brassic, and Call the Midwife. Amazing Grace marks Carney’s feature-film directorial debut. Centering on Walter, a solitary individual battling psychological distress, the plot unfolds as he develops a surprising bond with Grace, a worker at a crisis hotline. Throughout their ongoing dialogue, Walter starts facing the lifelong burdens of addiction, shame, and past trauma he has harbored.
Bringing Independent British Cinema to the Big Screen
Daniel P. Lewis, who serves as the film’s writer, producer, and co-lead actor, discussed the realities of independent filmmaking during the production cycle. “It’s a deeply personal, performance led British drama exploring mental health, compassion, human connection and hope,” Lewis stated. He added, “We’ve also been working alongside Samaritans to help raise awareness of the film’s themes.”
Reflecting on the financial and logistical hurdles of independent cinema, Lewis noted, “We’ve managed to bring together an incredible cast and experienced director on a relatively modest budget, and it’s been quite a journey getting the film from its original screenplay to the big screen.” Following the screening, Walters, Carney, and Lewis took part in a live Q&A session to discuss the film’s themes and the journey of bringing an independent feature to audiences.
Upcoming Tour Dates Across Regional Cinemas
The regional tour continues on Friday, November 6, 2026, with a preview screening and Q&A at The Light Cinema in New Brighton, featuring Carney, Lewis, Sean O’Neill, and Dawn Tolcher. On Sunday, November 8, 2026, the production travels to the Birmingham Film Festival at Millennium Point Cinema for a screening and discussion with Carney, Lewis, Carley Armstrong, and Angela Lonsdale. A further preview screening takes place on Monday, November 9, 2026, at Scala Cinema in Prestatyn with Carney and Lewis.
Audiences can track updates, view production details on the IMDb page for Amazing Grace, or follow visual updates on the Amazing Grace Instagram account. Viewers affected by the film’s themes can access support and resources via the Samaritans official portal. Further screening dates and cinema locations remain to be announced by the filmmakers.
