BFF25: Grow

Australian premiere

Grow is a spirited British comedy that plants laughter and heart in equal measure. Directed by John McPhail, the film whisks audiences to England’s self-proclaimed “Pumpkin Capital of the World,” where tradition rules and rivalry runs deep. Enter Dinah Little (Golda Rosheuvel), a no-nonsense farmer whose quiet life is upended when her niece Charlie (newcomer Priya-Rose Brookwell) arrives with a knack for making things bloom — especially giant pumpkins.

With the help of Arlo, played with lovable chaos by Nick Frost, Charlie throws herself into the village’s fiercely competitive pumpkin contest. What follows is a riot of pumpkin sabotage, midnight garden capers, and community-wide antics that test loyalties and stir long-buried grudges. McPhail infuses the story with playful energy, balancing slapstick with genuine tenderness, while the countryside setting brims with golden harvest colors and rustic charm.

At once a cozy small-town romp and a heartfelt tale of family, resilience, and belonging, Grow proves that sometimes the biggest transformations start with the smallest seeds