What happens when the modern world turns up on your doorstep, and refuses to leave? The Incomer is a quirky, warm and wonderfully offbeat comedy situated on a remote Scottish island, where two eccentric siblings defend a life shaped by folklore, isolation and suspicion of outsiders, until an unexpected visitor shakes up everything they thought was certain.
Genre: comedy, drama, fantasy
Language: English, subtitles: Dutch
Length: 1 hr. 42 mins. (2026)
On a remote Scottish island, siblings Isla and Sandy live almost completely cut off from the modern world. They hunt seabirds, tell stories about their ancestors and follow the rules left by their father: protect the island, allow no incomer, survive. Then Daniel arrives - an awkward council official from the mainland who has been sent to relocate them. With him come paperwork, smartphones, veganism and a very different idea of how life is supposed to be lived.
The Incomer is the feature debut of Scottish writer-director Louis Paxton, starring Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin and Grant O'Rourke. Blending deadpan comedy, Scottish folklore, animation and touches of fantasy, the film turns a clash between two worlds into a warm and eccentric story about isolation, grief and human connection.
But beneath the absurdity, The Incomer asks a more serious question: who gets to decide what a normal, civilized or desirable life looks like? As Daniel begins to question the mainland world he represents, Isla and Sandy are forced to confront whether protecting their heritage also means shutting out change. The result is a playful film about belonging, difference and the uneasy balance between holding on and letting go.
A member of the SG student film committee recommends The Incomer: “For it's lighthearted slapstick humor combined with deeper questions on what it means to be happy. You'll certainly enjoy this quirky and charming Scottish tale!”
Awards
The Incomer won the NEXT Innovator Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and the FIPRESCI Award at the 2026 Brussels International Film Festival. It was also selected as the opening film of the 2026 Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Reviews
“The Incomer encourages us to embrace our quirks and worry less about what others think of us.” Cinemagazine 3.5/5 rating
“Gleeson, Rankin and O’Rourke all have screen presence to burn. And as it goes with more than a few movies set in Scotland, the scenery is gorgeous even when other elements feel strained.” New York Times
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% - reviews
Metacritic: 59/100 rating - reviews
SG & ITEC registration for bachelor’s students
Please register for SG & ITEC by scanning your student ID card after the screening at the venue.
More information about SG & ITEC can be found here.
Ticket information
This film will be shown at Filmhuis De Zwarte Doos.
- Tickets must be purchased online in advance and can be bought by clicking the black “Order” button on this page.
- Cash or card payments are not accepted at the ticket counter.
For more information about tickets, refund policies, and other details, click here.
Please be on time
The screening of the film begins promptly at 19:30 (with no pre-film advertisements), and the cinema hall will open at 19:10. We kindly request that you arrive at the ticket counter at least 10 minutes before the start of the film to ensure a smooth and timely experience for all.
The Studium Generale film program is created in collaboration with the Student Film Committee and Natlab.