‘Happy as Larry’ film lands UK & US digital release festive season
Solvane Films in association with Lucas A. Ferrara confirmed on 9 November 2026 that Happy as Larry will arrive on digital download services across the UK and US this festive season. The exact date remains to be confirmed but is expected in December. The announcement positions the film as a darkly comedic work with a surprisingly uplifting spirit that has already completed its festival circuit.
A struggling London writer travels to the Isle of Skye intending to end his life yet delays the act until he can compose the perfect final letter. His intended solitude is interrupted by Dale, an eccentric yet warm local who refuses to depart. As the pair journey through the mountains Larry continues to wrestle with his closing words while Dale’s humour and insight draw him back into the present and an unlikely bond develops. The film explores themes of connection, loneliness and unexpected reasons to continue; anyone affected by these subjects can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day on 116 123 or via samaritans.org.
Happy as Larry premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Dallas International Film Festival where it received the Audience Award for Best International Feature. Additional screenings followed at festivals in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Writer and director Hugo Andre previously made the 2023 feature Makeup. The cast is led by Calvin Crawley and Kevin Walls, with Andre and Izzy Harradine also appearing. Walls previously featured in Sophie Fillières’ final film This Life of Mine, which opened Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes in 2024. Additional cast members include Coral Sinclair and Anne Martin. The film runs 87 minutes.
The production was shot entirely outdoors on the Isle of Skye, employing the island’s dramatic landscapes as the setting for its examination of human connection and isolation.
Director Hugo Andre stated: “I’m incredibly excited for audiences to finally see Happy as Larry. It’s a film that explores some quite profound themes through humour, warmth and an unexpected journey. I hope audiences find themselves laughing (maybe crying) and perhaps seeing a little of themselves in Larry and Dale along the way. It’s been a real labour of love, and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”
Producer Lucas A. Ferrara commented: “Happy as Larry is the rare buddy film that earns its warmth and laughs. After winning hearts and awards around the world, it’s the perfect holiday-season reminder that even when life feels darkest, the unexpected can bring inspiration and hope. We made this movie with grit and heart—and are certain you’ll find it funny, engaging, and cathartic. It’s the rare kind of story that will stay with you long after the credits roll.”
Andre, a British-French filmmaker based in London, specialises in character-driven stories that examine complex relationships, vulnerability and darker aspects of human nature, frequently blending drama and comedy. Earlier credits comprise Makeup and Blind Innocence, both released in 2023. He has recently completed post-production on the short film The Screen, which addresses online sextortion, and is developing the period drama Brothers’ Cove set in 1945 wartime Britain together with the psychological thriller The Roster.
Lucas A. Ferrara, who works primarily as an attorney and has been recognised as a New York Super Lawyer every year since 2007, has produced more than 175 award-winning films since 2020. His feature credits include Help directed by Blake Ridder, Makeup directed by Hugo Andre, the two Space Aliens films directed by Scott Bateman, Children of the Pines directed by Joshua Morgan and Manor of Darkness again directed by Ridder. Current productions comprise Blake Buried a Body and Archie. Ferrara has also backed numerous acclaimed shorts and is especially proud of the 2023 Oscar-eligible short Frank & Emmet.
