Sunny Dancer
2026 · United Kingdom · 106 min
- Director
- George Jaques
- Screenplay
- George Jaques
- Producer
- George Jaques, Ken Petrie
- Music
- Este Haim,
- Cinematography
- Oliver Loncraine
- Production company
- Athenaeum Productions, 27 Ten Productions
Cast
What it is about
Ivy Pritchard, a seventeen-year-old who has just come through leukaemia, reluctantly joins a summer camp for young people with cancer, a trip her parents have arranged. There she must work out where she fits among counsellors and fellow campers whose experiences resemble her own, all while keeping her irritation in check.
How it was made
George Jaques, who wrote and directed the film, conceived the script with Ruby Stokes in mind for the cast. Bella Ramsey joined in 2024, and James Norton, Neil Patrick Harris and Jessica Gunning followed in February 2025. Principal photography started in April that year at Auchengillan Outdoor Centre near Loch Lomond, Scotland. Este Haim composed the score, and Jaques has stressed that the illness is the least interesting thing about these characters.
Reception and legacy
The film premiered at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival as the opening title of the Generation 14plus section and was nominated for the Crystal Bear. Critics responded warmly, especially to Bella Ramsey's performance as Ivy, which several outlets singled out for its blend of humour and emotion.
Stills
Trivia
A script written with an actress in mind
George Jaques wrote the script with Ruby Stokes in mind for the cast.
A musical cameo
James Blunt makes a brief musical cameo appearance in the film, playing himself.
Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.