Comic stars in Simon Callow's About A Bell

Omid Djalili has made a new film in which he plays a Syrian refugee upset by the demolition of a former parish church.

About A Bell has been directed by actor Simon Callow and is to be offered for international sale at the forthcoming Cannes film festival.

The cast also includes Eleanor Worthington-Cox as a young librarian who helps him research local history and save the church bell, as well as Christopher Eccleston, Nigel Havers and Roger Allam.

The plot takes a turn when Djalili and Worthington-Cox’s characters accidentally injure a security guard and find themselves on the run from the police. However, our accidental heroes’ fate is sealed by a kindly police sergeant who is moved by their mission…

Now in post-production, the film was written by Derek Lister and is produced by Jasper Warry  of Wales-based Hello Deer Studios, who told Screen Daily: ‘I think this film will resonate with an international audience who are desperate to be entertained, but also to be reminded right now of our shared and innate decency and humanity.’

Djalili, who is also a co-producer of the film, added: ‘There is no doubt about the international appeal of About A Bell as it deeply resonates on so many levels regarding who we are as a species.’

It is Callow’s second feature as director, after 1991’s The Ballad Of The Sad Café.

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution has picked up the film for international sales.

Published: 7 May 2026