Queen at Sea

A serious moral dilemma arises between Amanda (Juliette Binoche) and her stepfather, Martin (Tom Courtenay). Is Amanda’s mother, Leslie (Anna Calder-Marshall), who lives with advanced dementia, still capable of deciding what is best for herself? And if no longer, whose responsibility is it? Who can make decisions on her behalf: her husband, her child, or an institution? When she accidentally catches the elderly couple having sex, Amanda further deepens the conflict, all while having to support her teenage daughter, Sara (Florence Hunt), through a complicated relationship situation of her own.
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Lance Hammer’s provocative drama - at once shocking and moving - speaks without taboos about self-determination, love, sexuality, and the female experience. Queen at Sea premiered in the competition section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, quickly generating immense buzz. Unusually, the film received double honors: alongside the Jury Prize, the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance was awarded jointly to Anna Calder-Marshall and Tom Courtenay for their roles as the elderly couple.

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Berlin International Film Festival 2026 - Competition - Jury Prize
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2026 - Horizons

Lance Hammer is an American director, screenwriter and editor celebrated for his quiet, minimalist style. After working in visual effects art direction on major studio films like Batman Forever (1995), he made his acclaimed feature directorial debut with Ballast (2008), winning the Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival. He returns to directing with his second feature, Queen at Sea (2026), starring Juliette Binoche, which earned the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival.

Ballast (2008)

Director: Lance Hammer
Cast: Juliette Binoche, Tom Courtenay, Anna Calder-Marshall, Florence Hunt
Cinematography: Adolpho Veloso
Screenwriter: Lance Hammer
Producers: Tristan Goligher, Lance Hammer
Editor: Lance Hammer
Hungarian Distributor: Magyarhangya
Colour: colour
Run Time: 121 mins

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