# ‘Ish’ Has Resonated Widely Amid “Authoritarian Turn,” Says Its BAFTA Breakthrough Writer-Director

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ish-has-resonated-widely-amid-authoritarian-turn-says-its-bafta-breakthrough-writer-director/
- Published: 2026-11-04T00:05:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T01:03:21+00:00
- Original publisher: The Hollywood Reporter
- Original article: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ish-film-bafta-breakthrough-uk-2026-interview-authoritarian-1236745871/
- Topics: Culture, Entertainment, Europe, Film, Travel, World

## Key points

- *Ish* has sparked discussion about police powers and surveillance.
- The film won the 2025 Venice Critics’ Week audience award.
- Imran Perretta joined the 2026 U.K. BAFTA Breakthrough cohort.

## Summary

Imran Perretta’s debut feature film *Ish* has found an audience beyond the festival circuit, with screenings prompting discussion about racial profiling, police powers and surveillance. Perretta says the story’s themes have resonated internationally amid what he describes as an “authoritarian turn” in Western countries.

Set in Luton, the film follows two teenage best friends whose lives are affected by a police stop-and-search. It stars Farhan Hasnat, Yahya Kitana and Sudha Bhuchar, won the audience award at the 2025 Venice Critics’ Week, and has been shown at community and activist screenings in countries including Germany, the United States and Russia. Perretta was named to the 2026 U.K. BAFTA Breakthrough cohort, supported by Netflix.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.