Hot Milk: From Novel to Berlin Competition Film
Based on insights from the 2025 Berlinale EFM Industry Session panel discussion
A Literary Adaptation in the Making
“Hot Milk,” based on Deborah Levy’s acclaimed novel, has made its world premiere in Competition at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. Directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz and starring Emma Mackey, Fiona Shaw, and Vicky Krieps, the film represents a fascinating case study in bringing literary fiction to the screen through international collaboration.
During a panel discussion at the 2025 European Film Market, producer Christine Langan of Bonnie Productions detailed the journey of transforming this contemporary novel into a compelling visual narrative that retained the book’s psychological complexity and emotional depth.
Unconventional Beginnings
Unlike many literary adaptations that are optioned before publication, “Hot Milk” followed a different path. As Langan explained during the panel, “It was unusually a novel that was just for sale, you know, it had been out a couple of years before we optioned it.”
This approach runs counter to current trends in the industry, where Langan noted, “That race for IP has really grown and intensified… big titles, much awaited titles are snapped up, and option prices have gone up considerably in the last few years.”
The producer described finding the book as a moment of serendipity: “I had clocked it in my local independent bookshop and been—don’t judge a book by the cover, but actually the cover was very attractive.” This initial attraction led to a deeper appreciation for Levy’s story and its cinematic potential.
The Director’s Journey
Perhaps the most surprising element of the film’s development came when Langan approached Rebecca Lenkiewicz, initially as a potential screenwriter. During their first meeting, Lenkiewicz surprised the producer by declaring she couldn’t simply write the screenplay.
“She sat down, she said, ‘I can’t do this.’ And I thought, ‘Oh, why are you here?'” Langan recalled. “But she just basically said, ‘I’m so involved with it. I won’t be able to let it go. I will want to carry this one all the way through.'”
This unexpected declaration became a pivotal moment in the film’s journey. Lenkiewicz articulated her vision for the project with such clarity and passion that Langan immediately recognized her as the right director, despite this being her feature directorial debut.
“She talked about how the material had affected her, was thinking about the imagery and about the journey that you go on, and it was so captivating,” Langan explained. “I got a real rush of excitement listening to her.”
Financing and Production
Film4 came on board early as a cornerstone funder, providing development support. Stefanie Fahrion, Head of Distribution and Sales at Film4, noted during the panel that supporting first-time directors from various creative backgrounds is central to their mission.
“One of the things that we do primarily is find new directorial voices coming out of the UK,” Fahrion explained. “We work with a lot of storytellers coming from different mediums, from screenwriting, from television, from theatre.”
The filming location presented its own challenges and creative decisions. Although Levy’s novel is primarily set in Spain, production ultimately moved to Greece for both practical and creative reasons. After losing an initially attached lead actress (Jesse Buckley) and reassessing the budget, the team conducted extensive location scouting across potential Mediterranean locations.
“We spoke to a lot of production services people in different countries and in the end plumped for Greece,” Langan explained, citing the visual versatility of mainland areas around Athens, the supportive approach of local production partners Andogos and Heretic, and Greece’s beneficial tax rebate.
With a tight 25-day shooting schedule, the production maintained a challenging pace. “It was pressured and the days were very, very full on and very intense,” Langan acknowledged, while adding that the constraints ultimately didn’t compromise the film’s visual beauty or artistic vision.
Festival Launch and Distribution
“Hot Milk” received an early invitation to compete for the Golden Bear at the 2025 Berlinale—an unusual vote of confidence from the festival. According to Fahrion, Berlinale Artistic Director Tricia Tuttle became an early champion of the film.
“We showed [it] to Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Sundance, and Berlin, and had a very early indication from the Berlinale, I think it was around Cannes time in May last year, that they were very, very passionate about the film,” Fahrion recalled.
The film is scheduled for release in the UK at the end of May 2025, with a US release planned for late April. It will have its UK premiere at the BFI Flare Festival, creating momentum ahead of its theatrical release.
A Collaborative Vision
Throughout the panel discussion, Langan emphasised the importance of the relationship between filmmakers and the authors of source material. “For me, it’s vital,” she stated, explaining that trust between all creative parties is essential, especially on what can be a lengthy journey from page to screen.
“Film is not literature. It’s something else, it’s its own art form,” Langan noted, acknowledging that changes are inevitable in adaptation. The key, she suggested, is maintaining respect for the original work while allowing the film to become its own entity.
As “Hot Milk” begins its public journey following its Berlinale premiere, it stands as a testament to the power of female-driven storytelling and the potential of literature to inspire bold, artistic cinema. The film represents the culmination of a creative process built on shared passion, vision, and determination to bring Levy’s evocative novel to visual life.
This article is based on the panel discussion at the 2025 European Film Market, featuring producers and executives from both “The Outrun” and “Hot Milk” discussing their journeys from book to screen.
Editor in Chief of Ikon London Magazine, journalist, film producer and founder of The DAFTA Film Awards (The DAFTAs).
