British filmmaker Carol Morley has adapted her semi-autobiographical novel 7 Miles Out into a coming-of-age drama starring Lucy Halliday, Gemma Whelan and Aidan Gillen. Set in Stockport, near Manchester, during the 1970s and 1980s, the film follows a young woman navigating grief, friendship and the search for her own voice through music. It will have its world premiere in the official competition at the BFI London Film Festival.
Halliday plays Ann, whose life changes following the death of her beloved father, played by Gillen. Struggling to process her loss, Ann finds an escape in the new-wave punk movement and her friendship with Hel, played by Leila Entwistle. Whelan portrays Ann’s mother, while Kasper Hilton-Hille plays her brother.
The story takes a darker turn following the suicide of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis and Hel’s departure from town. Ann struggles further, turning to alcohol and casual relationships as she tries to cope with her circumstances. However, a reconnection with her past and the discovery of an old cassette tape offer the possibility of a new beginning.
Halliday, known for her role in Blue Jean, will also appear in the upcoming series The Testaments. Morley had seen her performance in Blue Jean before meeting her for an extended conversation that helped confirm her casting as Ann.
Morley and casting director Shaheen Baig also organised an open casting call in Stockport, which attracted around 450 people. According to Morley, several younger performers in the film are making their screen debuts.
Gillen, known for Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders and Queer as Folk, plays Ann’s father. Whelan, whose credits include Game of Thrones and Killing Eve, takes on the role of her mother. The cast also includes Entwistle as Hel and Hilton-Hille as Ann’s brother.
7 Miles Out draws on Morley’s own experiences growing up near Manchester. The filmmaker has previously explored personal and difficult subjects in works including Dreams of a Life and The Falling. Her other directing credits include Out of Blue and the Manchester-set documentary The Alcohol Years.
Morley initially considered the book a complete work in itself. She wrote it while facing difficulties financing Dreams of a Life, and the possibility of adapting it for the screen emerged later. Filmmaker Michael Winterbottom suggested the idea during an interview with Morley for a book about British filmmakers.
Adapting her own writing proved more challenging than Morley had anticipated. She explained that the film retains the book’s central themes but changes some episodes and characters to create a more focused screenplay. She also recognised the opportunities cinema offered through performances, locations, dialogue and music.
Music plays a central role in Ann’s journey, with the soundtrack featuring artists including Joy Division, New Order and The Raincoats. Morley and Carly Paradis wrote the film’s original songs, while Paradis also composed the score. The songs are performed live in the film, reflecting the raw energy of the punk movement and Ann’s growing ability to express herself through music.
Although 7 Miles Out addresses suicide and the lasting effects of grief, Morley wants the film to offer more than a bleak account of loss. Drawing on her family history, she explores how grief becomes part of a person’s life rather than something that can simply be left behind.
The film also examines the importance of community and relationships between generations in a small town. Through Ann’s growing connection with music and songwriting, the story follows her gradual journey towards self-expression, showing how creative discovery can become a means of navigating personal loss.
Morley hopes to leave audiences with a sense of hope and emotional release. She also wants the film to encourage conversations about suicide and grief while giving viewers space to reflect on their own experiences.
Combining personal history, music and friendship, 7 Miles Out brings Morley’s memories of growing up in Stockport to the screen. Its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival will introduce audiences to a coming-of-age drama rooted in a specific period and place, while exploring emotions and experiences that extend beyond them.
