dir. Isaac Knights-Washbourn (UK, Croatia, 2025)
UK Premiere

The debut feature from Edinburgh-based filmmaker Isaac Knights-Washbourn is an intimate portrait of Thorntree, Rowan Alba’s pioneering supported accommodation for alcohol-dependent men. Rejecting conventional abstinence models, Thorntree enables residents to take control of their recovery without judgement or stigma.

Knights-Washbourn’s camera offers a compassionate yet unsparing look at the men of Thorntree as they navigate the complex journey towards sobriety, guided by the unwavering support of the staff. The film closely follows their setbacks and triumphs, capturing the realities of recovery with rare emotional resonance.

Drawing on his personal experience as the son of a father with experience of addiction, Knights-Washbourn instills the film with empathy and insight, bearing witness to the men’s struggles and hopes with remarkable sensitivity.

Includes a post-screening discussion with Isaac Knights-Washbourn and Rowan Alba. Co-presented with Scottish Documentary Institute.


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Filmhouse
88 Lothian Road
Edinburgh EH3 9BZ
Audio Description
Descriptive Subtitles
15+ Themes of alcohol addiction and homelessness, with depictions of heavy alcohol use and strong language.
£12.50 / £10 / £5 / £3