Dreaming of a Spring SXSW

Even though out pick of the week is called DEAD OF WINTER

Author

Ed Rigg
February 20, 2026

The headlines

RecDek’s events at SXSW and Cannes are in the works. Give me a shout if you’d like to partner with us at the House and have a presence at these festivals. Also, our final tranche of SEIS is now available for interested investors (until March).

Berlin

So, another busy Berlinale flies by - awards tomorrow! Then the BAFTAs on Sunday - good luck to all the nominees (loved seeing I SWEAR last night)!

The Berlin market felt busy, better than last year, on the up. Here are 3 films to keep an eye on as they (hopefully) make their way to a cinema near you.

Yellow Letters - The most talked-about film at this year's festival. İlker Çatak (The Teachers' Lounge) returns with the story of Derya and Aziz, a celebrated Turkish artist couple whose lives collapse when the state targets them following an incident at their play's premiere. Suddenly without jobs, their marriage is pushed to breaking point as they struggle to balance ideals with survival. Deadline called it possibly the most important film made about living under authoritarianism in years — and it resonates far beyond Turkey.

Queen at Sea - Lance Hammer's long-awaited return, eighteen years after Ballast won Sundance. Juliette Binoche plays a woman whose advancing dementia erodes her ability to communicate her inner life, as her husband (Tom Courtenay) and daughter navigate love, care and the painful boundaries between protection and autonomy. Tender, precise, and according to Screen Daily, expertly judged.

Josephine - Already arrived at Berlin with serious heat behind it, having won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance. Eight-year-old Josephine witnesses a violent crime in Golden Gate Park and starts acting out as her parents (Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan) search for justice and a way to feel safe again. Beth de Araújo's thriller bends into psychological horror without losing its emotional core. Masterfully acted, edited and directed.

AND - what you can actually watch right now…

While those festival films work their way to distribution, here's something just dropped on Channel 4 worth your evening!

Our pick of the week

THE PUSHOVER (Channel 4 & 4oD)

This Six-part Danish thriller recently landed. Low down? Wealthy heiress found dead in pool, notorious con artist boyfriend Tom turns himself in admitting fraud but claiming her death was accidental. Detective Morten Stark isn't buying it, and plays a verrrry risky game to expose him. Meanwhile journalist Nora Sand uncovers multiple fraud cases in Tom's past, reveals a few chilling secret and a tangled web of deceit and murder (of course).

Set in Denmark's affluent North Zealand "Danish Riviera," and based on Lone Theils' bestselling Nora Sand books. This went down brilliantly in Denmark last year, praised for having proper representation on screen. All six episodes available to binge now if you need some Scandi noir in your life.

Catch ya soon.

Ed

RecDek is for independent entertainment discovery. Our House is for the indie industry in all its forms. Tell your friends. www.recdek.com

Tell your friends