After producing Lee (2023), in which Kate Winslet herself portrayed the titular role, she is stepping into the director’s shoes for the first time. She didn’t hesitate to direct and work in the film that her son, Joe Anders, now 21, started writing at the age of 19.
Kate Winslet directorial debut Goodbye June’s trailer is out and will be available for you to enjoy on Netflix on Christmas Eve.
Plot details of Goodbye June (2025)
Goodbye June is a family drama film that revolves around four adult siblings. They have messy dynamics but are forced to reunite due to their mother’s sudden health crisis.
The four siblings and their father are seen mingling with each other in the trailer as they move closer to face a potential family loss. They are trying to keep their mother happy during her last days while in the process of mending their own wounded relationships.
Catch the trailer for an early look:
Director’s vision for the film
While speaking to Deadline, Kate Winslet shared that she felt great about making her directorial debut at 50. Winslet was confident that she had sufficient knowledge about directing films, having worked with wonderful people before.
She has been with James Cameron on the Titanic (1997) and the Avatar movies. She has worked alongside Stephen Daldry on The Reader (2008). She has collaborated with Francis Lee on Ammonite (2020) and with Todd Haynes on Mildred Pierce (2011).
She explained that she knew the ins and outs of direction, and believed that she trusted her “degree of instinct” for judging what should be included and what should be left out.
The details in the field of direction matter. Her experience working with a wide community of creatives has enabled her to channel her learnings into an emotional directorial effort—made even more special by the fact that she developed it alongside her own son.
She said,
“I’ve been part of that community for a very, very long time. And I think it just feels great to have directed my first film in the 50th year of my life as a woman. It feels good, it feels good.” [Source]
She opened up about how she decided to direct the film herself, recalling her conversation with the screenwriter, Joe Anders. She told Anders that as soon as they hand over the project to another, it won’t remain theirs.
She wanted to keep Goodbye June close to her heart, and she wasn’t ready to let it go. When Anders asked what they should do, she simply replied that she wanted to direct it.
Anders was happy that she took the lead, brought everyone together, and brought an energy that was hard to ignore.
What does Kate Winslet directorial debut Goodbye June tell about her style?
From the trailer, we infer that Winslet’s directorial style is intimate, character-driven, and emotionally grounded. While keeping an intense story based on family bonds humorous, she wants to reflect her preference for authenticity over spectacle.
There is no extravagance in the cinematography, which makes the scenes more simplistic and true to reality. It will make it easier for the audience to give careful attention to the details, human connections, and naturalistic storytelling, which seems to be Winslet’s aim here.
In filmmaking, it’s common for actor-turned-directors to focus on performance-first storytelling, and Winslet appears to follow this path. Her long experience as an actor shows through in the way she shapes performances by prioritizing vulnerability, quiet moments, and emotional truth.
Her collaboration game is strong. She has worked with some of the famed people from the industry and now, choosing her son in the creative team for her film, she brings warmth, personal energy, and a direction style that is rooted in trust, deep respect, and empathy.
It is for this very reason that she did not want to let the project go. She brings a distinctly female perspective to the story—one that offers nuances and emotional angles that might be approached differently by male directors—showcasing her versatility.
Even Kate Winslet wanted Lee to be directed by a female director, for which she chose Ellen Kuras. She knows that there is always pressure on the female directors to get things done correctly on their first attempt, whereas men are given second chances. It is this stereotype that she wants to break.
When will Goodbye June (2025) be released?
Goodbye June will be released in selected theatres across the UK and the US on December 12, and on December 24, 2025, on Netflix.
Genre: Drama
Cast: Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn
Director: Kate Winslet
Writer: Joe Anders
Producers: Kate Winslet, Kate Solomon
Release date: December 24, 2025
Movie runtime: – –
What part of Goodbye June are you most looking forward to? Let us know your thoughts!
Passionate Entertainment Writer | Trusted Pop Culture Voice
Madiha Ali is an experienced entertainment writer with over five years of expertise in covering movies, TV shows, celebrity news, and pop culture. Her bylines appear on trusted platforms like High on Films, Ary News, The Express Tribune, Tea and Banter, Show Snob, CelebFeedz, Snapfeedz, Daily Planet Media, The Irish Insider, and Movie Insiderz.
She brings a personal, insightful approach to every story—whether she’s analyzing the emotional layers of a film or giving her take on trending celebrity headlines. Madiha’s writing style is known for being authentic, well-researched, and reader-focused.
When she’s not writing, she’s fully immersed in the world of entertainment—watching new releases, revisiting classics, exploring behind-the-scenes content, or reading books that fuel her creativity. Her passion for storytelling drives her work and helps her stay connected to what matters most in the industry.
Madiha believes great stories start conversations, challenge perspectives, and stay with us long after the credits roll. Through her writing, she continues to share those stories with clarity, depth, and heart.
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