Saoirse Ronan Brings Her Directorial Debut ‘Paper Plane’ to London and Steals the Festival Spotlight

The red carpet is a familiar place for Saoirse Ronan, but this time she arrived in a different role. At the BFI London Film Festival this week, the four-time Oscar nominee showed up not as a leading lady but as a filmmaker, marking an important new chapter. Saoirse Ronan’s directorial debut was front and center, and the photos have fans talking.

She posed against the festival’s bright pink backdrop in a sharp black blazer with satin lapels and matching trousers, her blonde bob and fringe framing her face. Subtle ear cuffs added a little sparkle. It was a polished, minimal look that let the occasion do the talking.

Saoirse Ronan photographed at the ‘I SEE MY SELF’ screening during the 70th BFI London Film Festival. 📷 https://t.co/m4Q3B1H4ez

— Cinethology (@thecinethology) October 16, 2026

The pictures were taken on October 16 at a screening of ‘I See Myself’, a short film programme at the 70th BFI London Film Festival, which runs from October 7 to 18. The programme follows people who carve out a bigger space for themselves in a world that tries to box them in, through silent protests, private reflections and vocal uprisings.

Among the shorts in that lineup is ‘Paper Plane’, which Ronan wrote and directed. It’s her first film behind the camera, and according to its producers, it was set to screen at the festival twice, on October 16 and 17, with both screenings sold out.

Saoirse Ronan with Martha Malone and Shirin Eren at the "I See My Self" Shorts Programme during the 70th BFI London Film Festival today. https://t.co/6SWdzjnqTw

— Saoirse Ronan Source (@sronansource) October 16, 2026

The 15-minute British-Irish co-production tells the story of a defiant young girl who stages a silent protest, refusing to go home until her father’s disruptive presence is gone. Her mother must then decide whether to follow her or part ways. Martha Malone leads the cast, joined by ‘Kin’ star Clare Dunne and Tim Creed.

Ronan has described the film as a love letter to a younger version of herself and to a younger version of her mother. It was supported by Screen Ireland and produced by Una Pictures, Keeper Pictures and Sad Dog Films, with Shirin Erin producing and Kate McCollough behind the camera as cinematographer.

No gown, no embellishment overload. Just Saoirse Ronan in a beautifully cut Louis Vuitton suit. Sometimes that’s more than enough. https://t.co/LzHqyv12hp https://t.co/4oXfJuLs6X

— Red Carpet Fashion Awards (@Fashion_Critic_) October 16, 2026

The short premiered in September at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where it competed in the Orizzonti Short Film Competition and was chosen from more than 2,500 submissions. It was also the first time Ronan walked a red carpet as a filmmaker, a milestone that drew plenty of attention.

Reaction has been warm, with praise for her direction and McCollough’s cinematography. One review noted that the film doesn’t quite stick the landing, but called its final moments satisfying and said they hint at a promising future for Ronan as a director. Some viewers on social media also said the room applauded when her name appeared in the end credits.

Directing has been on Ronan’s mind for years. She told Deadline in October 2024 that she’d love to direct next, and she thanked ‘Little Women’ and ‘Barbie’ director Greta Gerwig for guidance. Gerwig encouraged her to see the preparation process up close before committing to the leap.

Her producing experience on ‘The Outrun’, in which she also starred, gave her added confidence, helping her understand the early decisions that shape a film. ‘Paper Plane’ is the first public result of that learning curve.

The London appearance also marks a return to the festival circuit for Ronan after a big personal chapter. She and her husband, actor Jack Lowden, welcomed their first child in September 2025, having married in a private ceremony in Edinburgh the previous summer. Some fans online said they were glad to see her out and about again.

Opinions on her new haircut were mixed, with a few commenters calling the suit a little conservative, but plenty praised her glow. The reaction shows how closely audiences follow her style, even when the main event is a short film.

Ronan hasn’t slowed down as an actor. She is part of Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics, and her recent work includes the dark comedy ‘Bad Apples’, which played at the BFI London Film Festival last year. After its Venice debut, ‘Paper Plane’ is set to screen across autumn festivals while its team looks for broader distribution.

Whether she moves on to a feature as a director remains to be seen. For now, fans can enjoy a rare chance to see a beloved actress step to the other side of the lens.

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