The British biographical drama is alive and well, with audience favourite I Swear just released and WWII drama The Choral just around the corner. Coming soon is H Is for Hawk, based off the 2014 memoir that sees Helen (Claire Foy) train a fearsome goshawk to process the death of her father (Brendan Gleeson).

Before it premiered as the BFI Patron's Gala at this year's London Film Festival, FILMHOUNDS caught up with the cast and crew of H Is for Hawk on the red carpet. Starring alongside Foy and Gleeson are two real goshawks that play as Mabel the hawk in the film. There was no CG involved, meaning the production had to revolve around the birds of prey. “Everything was done around the hawks”, explains director Phillipa Lowthorpe. “Absolutely every single bit of planning, even the time of year when we filmed it, was done around the hawks.”

Foy certainly has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity physically working with the hawks throughout production. “It was extraordinary. It wasn't something I ever expected to be doing”, revelaed Foy. “I totally just went into it with no preconceptions whatsoever—apart from my own probable failure at it. But the birds really taught me a lot about acceptance and patience and time, and leaving everything at the door.”

As well as Foy, Gleeson and Lowthorpe, we also had a chat with Andor star Denise Gough, Josh Dylan and Arty Froushan. Topics of conversation included working with Foy, the film's relationship with nature, and how you cast for a hawk.

You can check out FILMHOUNDS' full review below:

H Is for Hawk screened at the BFI London Film Festival 2025.

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