I Swear (film)
Updated: 12/10/2025, 10:41:05 AM Wikipedia source
I Swear is a 2025 Scottish biographical drama film directed, written, and produced by Kirk Jones. It is based on the true story of John Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome, and features his life before and after the 1989 television documentary John's Not Mad, at a time when his condition was barely identifiable. The film stars Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, Peter Mullan and introducing Scott Ellis Watson. I Swear premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2025, and was released in the United Kingdom by StudioCanal on 10 October 2025.
Infobox
Directed by
Kirk Jones
Written by
Kirk Jones
Based on
John's Not Mad
Produced by
mw- Georgia Bayliff Kirk Jones Piers Tempest
Starring
Robert Aramayo Maxine Peake Shirley Henderson Peter Mullan Scott Ellis Watson
Cinematography
James Blann
Edited by
Sam Sneade
Music by
Stephen Rennicks
Productioncompanies
Tempo Productions One Story High
Distributed by
StudioCanal
Release dates
7 September 2025 (2025-09-07) (TIFF) 10 October 2025 (2025-10-10) (United Kingdom)
Running time
120 minutes
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
British Independent Film Awards
British Independent Film Awards
Award / Festival
British Independent Film Awards
Date of ceremony
30 November 2025
Category
Best British Independent Film
Recipient(s)
Kirk Jones, Georgia Bayliff and Piers Tempest
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award / Festival
Best Director
Date of ceremony
Kirk Jones
Category
Nominated
Best Lead Performance
Best Lead Performance
Award / Festival
Best Lead Performance
Date of ceremony
Robert Aramayo
Category
Won
Best Supporting Performance
Best Supporting Performance
Award / Festival
Best Supporting Performance
Date of ceremony
Peter Mullan
Category
Nominated
Maxine Peake
Maxine Peake
Award / Festival
Maxine Peake
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Scott Ellis Watson
Scott Ellis Watson
Award / Festival
Scott Ellis Watson
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Breakthrough Performance
Breakthrough Performance
Award / Festival
Breakthrough Performance
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award / Festival
Best Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Kirk Jones
Category
Nominated
Best Casting
Best Casting
Award / Festival
Best Casting
Date of ceremony
Lauren Evans
Category
Won
| Award / Festival | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | mw- Ref. |
| British Independent Film Awards | 30 November 2025 | Best British Independent Film | Kirk Jones, Georgia Bayliff and Piers Tempest | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Kirk Jones | Nominated | |||
| Best Lead Performance | Robert Aramayo | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Performance | Peter Mullan | Nominated | |||
| Maxine Peake | Nominated | ||||
| Scott Ellis Watson | Nominated | ||||
| Breakthrough Performance | Nominated | ||||
| Best Screenplay | Kirk Jones | Nominated | |||
| Best Casting | Lauren Evans | Won |
References
- I Swearhttps://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/i-swear-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdi2mzcz
- BBC Scotland, Arts Correspondent, BBC News, BBChttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2n9709g0go
- Production List | Film & Television Industry Alliancehttps://productionlist.com/production/i-swear/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2024/film/global/robert-aramayo-kirk-jones-tourettes-biopic-i-swear-john-davidson-1236119362/
- JoBlohttps://www.joblo.com/no-way-off-maria-bakalova-thriller/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2025/02/tourettes-film-robert-aramayo-maxine-peake-sells-studiocanal-wild-bunch-1236286066/
- Anthony D'Alessandro, "TIFF Centrepiece Section Counts 55 Titles Including Pics Starring Shailene Woodley, Ethan Hawke,https://deadline.com/2025/08/tiff-2025-centrepiece-lineup-shailene-woodley-ethan-hawke-1236478780/
- Screen Dailyhttps://www.screendaily.com/news/uk-ireland-film-cinema-release-dates-latest-updates-for-2025/5200243.article
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/10/sony-pictures-classics-us-tourette-biopic-i-swear-1236596363/
- www.rottentomatoes.comhttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_swear_2025
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_swear_2025
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/i-swear-review-1236510978/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oct/09/i-swear-review-john-davidson-tourette-syndrome
- Financial Timeshttps://www.ft.com/content/b511417e-7670-4253-8472-bab3e7caab66
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bifa-2025-nominations-british-independent-film-awards-list-1236416506/