Frank & Louis

Frank & Louis
Directed byPetra Volpe
Screenplay byPetra Volpe
Esther Bernstorff
Produced by
  • Reto Schaerli
  • Lukas Hobi
  • Georgie Paget
  • Thembisa Cochrane
Starring
Production
companies
  • Zodiac Pictures
  • Caspian Films
Release date
Running time
94 minutes
Countries
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Frank & Louis is a 2026 drama film which marks the English-language feature film debut of director Petra Volpe. It stars Kingsley Ben-Adir and Rob Morgan.

Premise

A prisoner finds redemption when he starts helping fellow inmates who have health problems.

Cast

Production

The film is written by Petra Volpe and Esther Bernstorff and directed by Volpe in her English-language directorial debut. It was initially in development in 2022, with Laurence Fishburne and Clifton Collins Jr. attached to the cast.

It is produced by Reto Schaerli and Lukas Hobi for Zodiac Pictures, with Georgie Paget and Thembisa Cochrane for Caspian Films. In 2025, distribution rights were bought for various European countries including Filmcoopi in Switzerland, Constantin Film for Germany and Austria, and September Film for the Benelux region.

Kingsley Ben-Adir and Rob Morgan lead the cast alongside Indira Varma, Rosalind Eleazar and Rene Perez Joglar.

Principal photography began on the film on 30 April 2025.

Release

Frank & Louis premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which was held between January 22 and February 1, 2026.

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 92% based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10.

Accolades

Award Date of the ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Locarno Film Festival August 14, 2026 Prix du Public UBS Frank & Louis Won

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dalton, Ben (May 7, 2025). "Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rob Morgan to star in Petra Volpe's English-language debut 'Frank & Louis' for TrustNordisk". Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  2. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20495188/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_7_nm_0_in_0_q_frank%2520and%2520louis
  3. ↑ Grobar, Matt (May 24, 2022). "Laurence Fishburne, Clifton Collins Jr. To Star In Drama 'Frank & Louis' From Participant, Zodiac Pictures And Tyler Perry's Peachtree & Vine". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  4. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (May 16, 2025). "Cannes: 'Frank & Lewis' Inks European Deals". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  5. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (May 7, 2025). "Cannes: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rob Morgan Board Prison Drama 'Frank & Louis'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  6. ↑ Calnan, Ellie (May 19, 2025). "2025 film and high-end TV productions shooting in the UK and Ireland: latest updates". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on March 17, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  7. ↑ "TRUSTNORDISK PICKS UP PETRA VOLPE'S NEW ENGLISH-LANGUAGE FILM FRANK & LOUIS (W/T)". Formatbiz.it. May 7, 2025. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ Gardner, Chris (December 10, 2025). "Sundance Sets 2026 Lineup With Charli XCX, Olivia Wilde, Salman Rushdie and Courtney Love Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 21, 2026. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Frank & Louis". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Locarno Film Festival · Frank & Louis, Directed by Petra Volpe,..." Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved August 19, 2026.