Stuart Wheeldon
| Stuart Wheeldon | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| 🏳️ Nationality | British |
| 💼 Occupation | Filmmaker, screenwriter, producer |
| 📆 Years active | 2015–present |
| Known for | The Wirksworth UFO Incident; The Telephone; In Limbo; Don't Follow the Light |
Stuart Wheeldon is a British independent filmmaker, writer and producer based in Derbyshire, England. He is known for atmospheric, often psychological genre films and for collaborating with actor Nigel Barber. Wheeldon’s work spans short films—including Watching (2015), In Limbo (2015), The Telephone (2017), Don’t Follow the Light (2018), Hopewoods (2020), Silent Shadows (2024) and The Collector (2024)—and the feature-length fictional documentary The Wirksworth UFO Incident (2025).[1][2][3]
Career
Wheeldon emerged on the UK indie scene with short thrillers and horror projects shot in and around Derbyshire. Early work includes Watching (2015) and In Limbo (2015).[4][5] He continued with No Way Back (short),[6] followed by The Telephone (2017), described by UK Film Review as “atmospheric and gripping.”[7] He developed the horror short Don’t Follow the Light (2018), also listed on MUBI,[8][9] and Hopewoods (2020).[10]
In 2024 he wrote and directed the shorts Silent Shadows and The Collector. The Collector received a positive review from Blazing Minds for its eerie atmosphere and performances,[11] while Silent Shadows screened internationally and received awards recognition.[12][13]
Wheeldon completed the feature-length fictional documentary The Wirksworth UFO Incident (2025), about an American man returning to Derbyshire decades after a UFO sighting. The project drew local media attention during production and release,[14][15][16] and was reviewed by regional outlets.[17][18] Coverage also appeared in Blazing Minds ahead of production.[19]
Beyond film, Wheeldon has been associated with the Nine Ladies Film/Nine Ladies Productions banner and has contributed to audio comedy projects including Barmy Dale.[20] Earlier, he also co-ran the 9 Ladies Film Festival.[21]
Style and themes
Critics have noted Wheeldon’s interest in blending documentary textures with fiction, and his focus on folklore, memory and psychological tension in low-budget independent productions.[7][17][16]
Reception
UK Film Review praised The Telephone for its atmosphere and performances.[7] Blazing Minds described The Collector (2024) as an effective short horror that “manages to keep you entertained,” highlighting performances by Nigel Barber and Rachel Prince.[11] Reviews of The Wirksworth UFO Incident were mixed-to-positive, with Midlands Movies calling it “an interesting proposition… made with such clear passion,” while Mike’s Film Talk considered it earnest but slow-paced.[17][18]
Filmography
As director
- Watching (short, 2015)[22]
- In Limbo (short, 2015)[5]
- No Way Back (short, c. 2016)[23]
- The Telephone (short, 2017)[24]
- Don’t Follow the Light (short, 2018)[8]
- Hopewoods (short, 2020)[25]
- Silent Shadows (short, 2024)[26]
- The Collector (short, 2024)[27]
- The Wirksworth UFO Incident (feature, 2025)[28][16]
As writer
- In Limbo (2015)[5]
- The Telephone (2017)[7]
- Don’t Follow the Light (2018)[8]
- Hopewoods (2020)[29]
- Silent Shadows (2024)[30]
- The Collector (2024)[31]
- The Wirksworth UFO Incident (2025)[16]
As producer
- In Limbo (2015)[2]
- Silent Shadows (2024)[32]
- The Collector (2024)[33]
- The Wirksworth UFO Incident (2025)[16]
Selected reviews and media coverage
- UK Film Review on The Telephone (2017).[7]
- MUBI listing for Don’t Follow the Light (2018).[8][9]
- Blazing Minds review of The Collector (2024).[11]
- Midlands Movies: production spotlight for The Wirksworth UFO Incident (April 2025) and review (July 2025).[14][17]
- Derbyshire Times feature on casting and production for The Wirksworth UFO Incident (April 2025).[15]
- Mike’s Film Talk review of The Wirksworth UFO Incident (July 2025).[18]
- Blazing Minds feature on The Wirksworth UFO Incident (April 2025).[19]
External links
References
- ↑ "Stuart Wheeldon – Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "STUART WHEELDON". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Stuart Wheeldon". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Watching (Short 2015)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "In Limbo (Short 2015)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "No Way Back (Short)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Olson, Chris (17 December 2017). "Movie Review: The Telephone (short film)". UK Film Review. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "'Don't Follow the Light' (2018)". MUBI. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Don't Follow the Light – Cast & Crew". MUBI. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Hopewoods (Short 2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "The Collector – Horror Short Film (2024) Review". Blazing Minds. 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Silent Shadows (Short 2024) – Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Silent Shadows (2024)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Midlands Spotlight: Production to begin on The Wirksworth UFO Incident". Midlands Movies. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Mission Impossible and Spectre actor to appear in new film about UFO sightings set in Derbyshire town". Derbyshire Times. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 "The Wirksworth UFO Incident". FilmFreeway. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Tilt, Matthew (3 July 2025). "Midlands Review of The Wirksworth UFO Incident". Midlands Movies. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "'The Wirksworth UFO Incident' (2025): It's an Odd One". Mike’s Film Talk. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "The Wirksworth Incident unearths an age-old UFO mystery". Blazing Minds. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "The business of creating Barmy Dale". British Comedy Guide. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Interview with Festival Directors Nick John Whittle & Stuart Wheeldon (9LadiesFilmFestival)". Festival Reviews. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Watching (Short 2015)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "No Way Back (Short)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Telephone (Short 2017)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Hopewoods (Short 2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Silent Shadows (2024)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Collector (Short 2024)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Wirksworth UFO Incident (2025)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Hopewoods (Short 2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Silent Shadows (2024) – full credits". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Collector (Short 2024)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Silent Shadows (2024) – full credits". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Collector (Short 2024)". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
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