David Jonsson and Tom Blyth‘s prison thriller Wasteman will screen for free in over 100 U.K. theaters as part of a BFI-supported initiative.
Escapes, designed to make cinema more accessible by showing films for free across Britain each month, will make complimentary tickets for the now BAFTA-nominated Wasteman available on Feb. 16-17, ahead of its wide release on Feb. 20.
From director Cal McMau — who nabbed best debut director at the 2025 British Independent Film Awards for his work — Wasteman follows prisoner Taylor (Jonsson). Approaching parole, he wants nothing more than to be a father to the son he’s never met, and in a world of drugs, parties, gangs and violence, he’s so far managed to keep out of trouble. But when a violent new cellmate Dee (Blyth) arrives, the chance for Taylor to get his life back is put in jeopardy.
The film, a searing exploration of the country’s flawed prison system, also stars Rivals frontman Alex Hassell and British R&B artist Ray BLK.
“Escapes aims to boost independent cinema attendance and build cinema audiences in the long term,” said Ben Luxford, director of U.K.-wide audiences at the British Film Institute (BFI).
He continued to The Hollywood Reporter: “We’re excited to be partnering with Lionsgate to preview Cal McMau’s electrifying Wasteman to audiences across the U.K. for free, thanks to National Lottery funding. Claim your tickets, grab the popcorn and we’ll see you in the cinema!”
Jonsson, last year’s recipient of the BAFTA Rising Star Award, is best known for his breakout appearance in Ryle Lane and later Alien: Romulus, The Long Walk and HBO’s Industry. Blyth is currently the star of Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation, but is also famed for his role as a young President Snow in The Hunger Games: The Balladof Songbirds & Snakes.
Escapes is a nationwide initiative supported by the BFI and National Lottery funding. It celebrates independent cinemas and drives new audiences to local venues in a bid to “bring cinema to every community in the U.K.”
The free tickets will be available at Escapes from Feb. 2.
