Into Film Festival previews with special premieres of 'I Swear'

In a special prelude to the upcoming Into Film Festival in November, we were delighted to host several pupil premieres of new British drama I Swear at locations across the UK on Thursday 9 October, ahead of the film's cinema release.

I Swear tells the true story of activist John Davidson, a Scottish man who developed Tourette Syndrome at the age of 14, and suddenly found himself unable to live a normal life, before ultimately becoming an activist for those with the condition.

At The Cinema in The Power Station in Battersea, London, we were joined by the film's director, Kirk Jones, who spoke to several school groups about Tourette Syndrome, Davidson's background, and what he wanted audiences to take away from the film. At the Showcase cinema in Glasgow we were joined by young actor Scott Ellis Watson, who portrays a young John Davidson in the film. Another premiere took place in Cardiff, while attendees in Nottingham were treated to a session with Neupulse, a medical equipment manufacturer in Nottingham who are working to improve the lives of people with Tourette's, and whose work is featured in the film.

"Very little was known about Tourette's in 1989", explained Jones when introducing the film. "No one was really familiar with the condition. There certainly wasn't a way to get a diagnosis. There was no support. So whether it was school, the police, the medical professions… no one was able to help John."

I Swear depicts John's struggles with bullying and shows how a fundamental lack of understanding about the condition left him an outsider in society. The film does a brilliant job of highlighting the need for empathy, and demonstrates how understanding and education is key to accommodating those with all manner of neurological differences.

"There's a lot of humour in the film, as well as the drama. And it's fine for you to laugh", Jones emphasised to the young audience. "When I first spoke to John, he said that what happens to him is funny. He laughs, and his friends laugh. It's undeniable that a condition where you just speak and can't filter anything does create funny situations. John absolutely adores the film, and has approved everything related to the film, and he hopes that people will enjoy it as a form of entertainment." 

"But while you're being entertained, I really hope that it might educate in a small way, not only about Tourette Syndrome, but also about people who aren't exactly the same as you. My normal is different to your normal, is different to someone else's normal. And there are people who have neurodiverse conditions like ASD, ADHD, OCD... and those people just need a little bit more respect, space and understanding than others sometimes afford them."

The theme of finding an understanding community is key to the film and John's story, and it's something that became apparent during the filming process as well. "We worked with the Tourette community, and of the 90 performers in the film, 30 of them have Tourette's", explained Jones. "One of them, a young lady called Andrea, performs a few key scenes, and she had never acted before. And she was so impressive that now she has an agent and is up for regular acting roles. 

She's 24 years old, and she said it was the first time she had ever met anyone else with Tourette's. It made me realise that it's really important to bring the community together, so they don't feel like they're suffering on their own."

Download our Life with Tourette's resource

To celebrate the release of I Swear, which is in cinemas now, we've created a free resource that supports neurodiversity awareness and helps young people practice proactive allyship.

Life with Tourette's is a motivational resource for use with students aged 15+. With curriculum links to PSHE, citizenship, and health and wellbeing, this immersive lesson helps embed empathy and encourages students to play their part in creating inclusive spaces for all. Download this free resource today.

The Into Film Festival 2025

Taking place between 7-28 November 2025, this year's Festival will see over 3,000 screenings and events take place across more than 600 venues, across the whole breadth and depth of the UK. Bookings are now live, and remember - the Into Film Festival is entirely free!

To help you find the perfect film and Festival trip for you, we've highlighted some of our most exciting special events and a few hidden gems from this year's Festival programme.