From drag queens and bouncers to landlords, local legends and insider stories from celebrity Soho devotees, the feature length documentary delves into the heart and history of London’s most iconic neighbourhood just as it stands at a crossroads.
This is Soho blends vérité storytelling with unique access behind the doors of Soho’s most celebrated establishments and the residents who call Soho home. We also hear from those who regarded Soho as their spiritual home of bohemian nightlife and queer liberation. With rising rents, the rapid closure of iconic institutions, and changes brought about by commercialisation, is all that under threat? Is the price of progress worth it for one of the most storied postcodes in the world? We hear from all sides including major investors in the area as the fight for the soul of Soho plays out in real time.
This is Soho is created and produced by award-winning indie DARE Pictures and Bad Tattoo. The feature documentary is directed by rising star and award-winning producer and director Ahmed Peerbux. Part of this year’s BAFTA Elevate cohort, his production credits include Grenfell: Uncovered, BMX All Stars, Humza: Forgiving the Unforgivable and Iconic Albums. Executive producers include Derren Lawford and Jim Davies.
Financed by media entrepreneur Rob Pickles, Sphere Abacus is handling global distribution and will showcase the film to international buyers and platforms at MIPCOM 2025. A theatrical rollout and festival circuit are planned for later this year.
Derren Lawford, Founder & CEO of DARE Pictures, added: “With Ahmed Peerbux’s intimate, insightful and incisive direction and Stephen Fry’s unmistakable voice, we’re capturing the essence of a wonderful mix of communities in a way which feels both local and universal. This is not a film about the Soho you think you know. It’s the inside and definitive story of a place which for decades has welcomed people from all walks of life from all over the world and that’s something well worth celebrating.”
Jim Davies, co-Founder and MD of Bad Tattoo added: “I lived in Soho in the late 80’s. It was a very different place from today - bohemian, vibrant, accepting - it was a place where creativity ran free and anything seemed possible. The beating heart of London’s creative scene. Now, it feels like that heart is close to flatlining. I wanted to explore what makes Soho worth saving. What makes it so important to London’s cultural landscape?"
Director, Ahmed Peerbux, added: “Soho has always punched above its postcode — this square mile has significantly shaped the world's cultural imagination. Spending time with the people who live, work and play here, we’ve sought to uncover an authentic, layered present-day portrait of London’s most iconic area — one that pays homage to its glamorous mythos while also moving beyond it. Much has been made of Soho’s history, but this film is also rooted in the here and now, exploring how the area is changing and what that means for what comes next, both here and in cities all over the world."
Jonathan Ford, Managing Director, Sphere Abacus added: “Soho is a unique part of London that is famous, notorious, and well-loved throughout the world. And so we are confident of wide international interest in this fascinating and illuminating documentary film."
