A Lincolnshire-born filmmaker will bring his latest comedy to a town cinema this weekend for the county premiere of The Worm Charmers.
Oscar Hewitt, 25, who grew up in Grantham, will screen the 30-minute mockumentary at the Savoy Cinema on Sunday, July 26.
The film follows eccentric competitors taking part in an annual worm-charming championship on a village green, where they have four hours to lure as many worms from the ground as possible.
A competitor listens closely to the ground in search of worms during The Worm Charmers. Film still: Jacco Macacco Films
At the centre of the story is Abigail, a dairy farmer who secures a rare break from her cows to pursue her unusual passion. She faces competition from her estranged brother William, a decorated lawyer determined to win.
Oscar said the film combines “quintessentially British” charm and quirky humour with themes of determination, justice and community.
He found the idea after watching footage of a genuine worm-charming contest in Cheshire.
Oscar said: “It seemed so absurd that I thought it couldn’t possibly be real.
“When I found out that it was, I knew it would be the perfect setting for a mockumentary.”
The team began developing the film in May 2025, filmed it over four days in September and returned for a further day of filming in November. Post-production finished in June after 13 months of work.
A scene is filmed for The Worm Charmers, with a cast member armed with a garden fork during the outdoor shoot. Photo: Supplied/Jacco Macacco Films
The crew filmed the competition scenes at Roe Green Park in Brent, London, and used Goldings Estate Farm in Hertfordshire for the farm sequences.
Oscar said Lincolnshire shaped the film despite the crew filming it elsewhere.
He grew up in Grantham, while lead actress Rheanna Trueman and stills photographer Thomas Barlow also grew up Lincoln and Sleaford respectively.
The Grantham screening also holds personal significance for Oscar, who said: “It’s really important to me that I show my films in Lincolnshire. Not only is it the place I grew up, but it’s the place where all of the people who supported me to pursue a career in film are.
“It’s so nice to get to show them what I’ve been working on, and thank them for all of their help and support over the years.”
He said the film captures the atmosphere and characters of the rural communities he knew growing up.
Two competitors react during the mockumentary’s worm-charming contest. Film still: Jacco Macacco Films
Heavy rain repeatedly interrupted filming, forcing the cast and crew to shelter with their equipment under a small marquee. Despite spending four days “waggling forks” in the ground, nobody managed to charm a worm.
The filmmakers therefore added the line “No worms were charmed in the making of this movie” to the credits.
Oscar previously screened A Van Called Muriel at the Savoy in 2023. The film later won Best British Film at the Breaking TV Film Festival and featured in the official selections for several other events.
Cast and crew prepare for a scene during filming of The Worm Charmers at Roe Green Park in Brent. Photo: Supplied/Jacco Macacco Films
Since then, he has worked on projects including Saving Penelope, Friday is Mushroom Soup and the comedy pilot Job404. He has also gained on-set experience on productions such as Number 10, Star Wars: Starfighter and Avengers: Doomsday.
Doors open at 7.45pm and the screening will run from 8pm to 8.30pm. Oscar will introduce the film, while signed posters will go on sale afterwards.
Tickets cost £7 and are available through jaccomacaccofilms.com. Any money left after cinema hire will support festival submissions.
Characters peer into the ground during the championship in The Worm Charmers. Film still: Jacco Macacco FilmsA sound recordist operates a boom microphone during the outdoor shoot for The Worm Charmers. Photo: Supplied/Jacco Macacco FilmsA suited competitor kisses his trophy during The Worm Charmers. Film still: Jacco Macacco FilmsWorm-charming hopefuls assemble on the village green in The Worm Charmers. Film still: Jacco Macacco FilmsCompetitors gather during a scene from the fictional worm-charming championship in The Worm Charmers. Film still: Jacco Macacco Films
The event will offer the public its last planned chance to watch the film in a cinema before a hoped-for festival run.
Oscar hopes viewers will leave “a little more hopeful” and more eager to pursue their dreams, however unusual they might seem.