A documentary exploring the clash between two Devon farmers, Derek Banbury and Derek Gow, over the future of their land and the English countryside.
Derek vs Derek is coming to Plymouth Arts Cinema this October, a documentary that takes its title from the two men at its centre. It's a 2026 UK film directed by James Dawson, running 88 minutes, and it follows two neighbouring Devon farmers who both happen to be called Derek. The two go to war over the future of their land, and the film watches the fallout play out in real time.
On one side is Derek Banbury, an intensive dairy farmer who's horrified by what he sees as the 'devastation' of his neighbour's once productive farm. On the other is Derek Gow, a former sheep farmer dubbed a 'maverick rewilder' by the media, who's unrepentant in his drive to turn his land into an oasis for wildlife. As tempers fray and wild animals escape, the land between them changes, and the two clash over what the English countryside should look like and who gets to decide. It's described as equal parts hilarious and moving, and it puts a spotlight on the wider debate over the future of rural Britain, with the two men's dispute serving as a jumping-off point for a conversation about how farming and nature restoration might actually work together.
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There are four screenings to choose from, so you can pick the one that fits your schedule. It opens on Saturday 10 October at 14:30, followed by Tuesday 13 October at 18:00, which includes a Q&A after the film, Wednesday 14 October at 20:30, and Thursday 15 October at 18:00. All four are at Plymouth Arts Cinema, 0 Tavistock Place, Plymouth, PL4 8AT.
