First trailer drops for Sundance hit ‘God’s Own Country’
Picturehouse Entertainment has premiered the first trailer for Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country, set for theatrical release this September in the UK.
God’s Own Country tells the story of Johnny Saxby as he slaves away on his family’s remote farm in the north of England, numbing the hardship of his lonely existence with nightly binge-drinking sessions and casual sex. But when a handsome Romanian migrant worker arrives, Johnny finds himself dealing with complex emotions, forcing him to make a decision that could change his life forever.
The British drama was the only UK-based production to have competed as part of the World Drama category at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, netting Lee the Directing Award for his debut feature.
Picturehouse swooped in to acquire the film, loosely based on Lee’s own life, back in February. Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films will distribute in the US, though a release date has yet to be scheduled.
God’s Own Country was partly financed by the British Film Council’s iFeature program, with further funding secured through Creative England. The film was produced by Inflammable Films, Magic Bear Productions, and Shudder Films.
Cast and Performances
Josh O'Connor (Cinderella, Bridgend, Florence Foster Jenkins) and Alec Secareanu (Adalbert's Dream, Tudo, Chosen) star alongside Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Sense and Sensibility, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger) and Ian Hart (Finding Neverland, Enemy of the State, Michael Collins). Josh O'Connor's role as Johnny Saxby marked a major breakthrough; he has discussed its enduring significance in recent years. Supporting performances by Gemma Jones and Ian Hart were praised for depth alongside the leads.
Release Information
God’s Own Country is scheduled for theatrical release in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2017; see the trailer here. UK release occurred on September 1, 2017 as scheduled. The film received wide international theatrical distribution following acquisitions.
Awards and Critical Acclaim
God’s Own Country won Best British Independent Film and Best Actor at the 2017 British Independent Film Awards. It also took the Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and earned a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film. Critics gave the film a 98 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus highlighting Lee’s assured direction and the story’s emotional precision.
Box Office and Commercial Performance
The film earned roughly 2.6 million dollars worldwide. Trade coverage at the time described it as the most successful British debut feature of 2017 on both critical and commercial terms, a rare outcome for a low-budget drama that opened without major studio backing.
Francis Lee's Subsequent Career
Lee grew up on a Yorkshire farm and used those experiences to shape the debut. The Sundance win opened doors for his second feature, Ammonite, which starred Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan and premiered at TIFF and Telluride in 2020.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Reviewers often placed God’s Own Country beside Call Me By Your Name, noting its working-class setting and restrained tone. Josh O'Connor revisited the project’s lasting influence in 2026 interviews. The film remains available on major streaming platforms and continues to be cited for its grounded portrayal of queer life in rural Britain.
