Rhys Ifans & Laura Linney in new trailer & poster for ONWARDS AND SIDEWAYS

The brand-new trailer and poster have been unveiled for highly anticipated
feature film, Onwards and Sideways. The film will receive its World Premiere at
the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, before coming to UK cinemas
from 6 November and on BBC iPlayer and BBC One later in the year.
Watch the trailer here
Starring BAFTA award winner Rhys Ifans (Inheritance, House of the Dragon) and three-time
Oscar nominee, Emmy and Golden Globe award winner Laura Linney (Ozark, Love
Actually), Onwards and Sideways is the emotional and surprisingly funny story of two people
with lots in common – a great sense of humour, a love of adventure, and an unexpected
diagnosis of Parkinson’s.
Tony (Ifans) is deputy headteacher of a primary school. Emma (Linney) is a musician and
composer, and a single mother of two daughters. Neither knows the other, until a startling
encounter changes the course of their lives. On the same morning, they are both confronted
with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.
Onwards and Sideways is their story – a friendship which unfolds unexpectedly. A story of
humour, courage, music, movement and the transformative power of human connection.
Challenging assumptions, the film celebrates the capacity to find joy, freedom and hope,
even in life’s most difficult moments.
Rounding off the film’s stellar supporting cast is Monica Dolan (Mr Bates vs The Post Office,
Sherwood) and Rory Kinnear (The Diplomat, The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power).
The feature film from John Gore Studios and Hilltop Screen is written by Paul Mayhew-
Archer (The Vicar of Dibley, Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot, co-host of award-winning Parkinson’s
podcast Movers and Shakers) and directed by Oscar-nominee John Madden (Shakespeare
in Love, Operation Mincemeat, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) who continues his longtime
collaboration with the multiple Oscar-nominated composer, Thomas Newman. Produced by
Hilary Bevan Jones of Hilltop Screen, John Gore of John Gore Studios, and the BBC,
executive producers are Hilary Strong, Francis Hopkinson, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Ellie Wood,
Helen Flint, Rhys Ifans, and John Madden, with Lucy Richer for the BBC. Alfie Johnson is
co-producer.
Following the film’s highly anticipated World Premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film
Festival (TIFF) in a TIFF Gala Presentation on 13 September, Onwards and Sideways will
be released in UK cinemas from 6 November by Icon Film Distribution and shown on BBC
iPlayer and BBC One later in the year.