Latest film from new Stern & Wild client set for Copenhagen festival debut

Exciting news for new Stern & Wild filmmaker Dan Vernon whose latest feature documentary THE SALISBURY POISONINGS: A SPY NEXT DOOR is set to premiere at CPH:DOX (the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival) later this week.

The 80-min film centres on the chemical poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in 2018. While Skripal and his daughter would survive the attack, the event claimed the life of unrelated mother-of-three, Dawn Sturgess. The documentary charts how the incident exploded into an international showdown, revealing the escalating shadow conflict between Russia and the West.

The producers describe the film as “a dramatic portrait of loyalty and betrayal – and a story that resonates amid ongoing global tensions – [which] explores the collision of two men: Sergei Skripal and Vladimir Putin, the dictator determined to settle an old score”.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dan, THE SALISBURY POISONINGS is a Passion Pictures production for CNN Films in association with Propagate Content and West Buttermilk. It was developed and produced by Alex Brisland. Exec Producers are Kari Lia, Hamish Ferguson, David Moulton and Andrew Ruhemann for Passion Pictures; Amy Entelis and Roxanna Sherwood for CNN Films; Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens for Propagate Content; and James Packer for West Buttermilk.

Dan Vernon is a BAFTA and RTS winning Director, Producer and Cinematographer represented at Stern & Wild by Camilla Chiverton, Agent for Premium Unscripted Creative Talent. Some recent credits include: Director on the BAFTA-nominated NAIL BOMBER: MANHUNT (Netflix, 2021); Series Director on the three-part production HOUSE OF MAXWELL (BBC Two, 2022); and Director and Cinematographer on KING OF THE APOCALYPSE (Sky Studios/NBC News Studios, 2025).

THE SALISBURY POISONINGS: A SPY NEXT DOOR