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Sunny Dancer is a 2026 British comedy film from George Jaques and starring Bella Ramsey, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Ruby Stokes, Earl Cave, Jasmine Elcock, Conrad Khan, Jessica Gunning, James Norton and Neil Patrick Harris.

The film had its world premiere as the opening night film of the Generation 14plus section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 13 February 2026, where it was nominated for the Crystal Bear.

Premise

As if conquering cancer wasn’t hard enough, 17-year-old Ivy’s parents sign her up to spend her summer at what she calls “chemo camp”, where she manages to find unexpected friends in a group of misfits and has a summer she’ll never forget.

Cast

Production

Sunny Dancer was written, directed, and produced by George Jaques

Ken Petrie produced the film under his 27 Ten banner alongside George Jaques and his production company, Athenaeum Productions.[2] Jaques wrote the script with Ruby Stokes in mind for the cast. He has said that despite the main characters being in cancer remission there is “not a single hospital scene” and that he “wanted to make a film where cancer was the least interesting thing about them. They have these skills, this whole life, because they are still teenagers”.[3]

Alongside Stokes, Bella Ramsey was cast in 2024.[4] James Norton, Neil Patrick Harris and Jessica Gunning joined the cast in February 2025.[5] Este Haim of Haim and Zachary Dawes provided the musical score.[6]

Principal photography began in April 2025[7][8] at Auchengillan Outdoor Centre near Loch Lomond, Scotland.[9]

Release

The film premiered at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 13 February 2026.[10][11] True Brit Entertainment releases Sunny Dancer in the UK in the summer of 2026, with other territories to be announced after Berlin.[9] The film will release in the UK-Ireland on August 14, 2026.[12] The Teenage Cancer Trust announced on their Instagram their partnership with the film.[13]

Reception

Berlinale director, Tricia Tuttle, calls this film “a hidden gem.”[14] IndieWire named it one of the “12 films we’re excited about heading into the 76th Berlinale”.[15]

Critical response

Ben Rolph of Next Best Picture called Sunny Dancer “a film about joy, which Jaques translates effortlessly to the screen”. He praised Ramsey for “once again proving what a talent they really are … nails both the humour and the emotion”.[16] Laura Della Corte of The Upcoming said Ramsey “delivers a phenomenal lead performance as Ivy, showcasing incredible range by seamlessly blending sharp humour with profound emotion.”[17] Leslie Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter said it was “decidedly uneven but fitfully charming”.[18] Nikki Baughan of Screen Daily said the film “wraps its heavy themes in a peppy, accessible package”.[19] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian says “the film has buoyancy and sunshine” and the Jaques “executes a smart misdirection-twist.”[20] Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net called the film “so fresh and vivid and entertaining. Joyful cinema.”[21] Serena Seghedoni of Loud and Clear Reviews wrote that Ramsey “really excels at letting Ivy’s pain out at exactly the right time” and “there are some highly affecting moments that will stay with you for a long time after the credits roll”.[22] Christian Zilko of IndieWire said Jaques “made a bleak subgenre of cinema a little bit sunnier.”[23]

References

  1. ^ “Sunny Dancer (2026)”. Irish Film Classification Office. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  2. ^ Ritman, Alex (April 25, 2024). “Bella Ramsey, Louis Partridge, Ruby Stokes to Star in Coming-of-Age Comedy ‘Sunny Dancer’ From Rising Brit Director George Jaques (EXCLUSIVE)”. Variety. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  3. ^ Williams, Max (August 13, 2024). “George Jaques: 'Black Dog nearly broke me. But it also made me’“. Square Mile. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  4. ^ Blevins, Adam (April 25, 2024). “Bella Ramsey, Ruby Stokes, and Louis Partridge To Star in Coming-of-Age Movie Sunny Dancer“. Collider. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Ritman, Alex (February 5, 2025). “Neil Patrick Harris, James Norton, Jessica Gunning Join Bella Ramsey in Coming-of-Age Comedy Sunny Dancer (EXCLUSIVE)”. Variety. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  6. ^ “Sunny Dancer | Berlinale”. www.berlinale.de. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  7. ^ Sarrubba, Stefania (February 6, 2025). “James Norton and Bella Ramsey lead cast of new coming-of-age comedy Neil Patrick Harris and Jessica Gunning also star”. Digital Spy. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  8. ^ Calnan, Ellie (May 19, 2025). “2025 film and high-end TV productions shooting in the UK and Ireland: latest updates”. Screen Daily. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Salisbury, Mark. “Sunny Dancer director George Jaques on avoiding cancer cliches: ‘I wanted to make a film about joy’“. Screen. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  10. ^ Ntim, Zac (January 14, 2026). “Charli XCX’s The Moment & Sunny Dancer Starring Bella Ramsey & Neil Patrick Harris Added To Berlin Lineup”. Deadline. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  11. ^ Roxborough, Scott (February 10, 2026). “Sydney Sweeney, Charli xcx and Ethan Hawke Power Robust Berlin Hot List”. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  12. ^ Dalton, Ben. “UK-Ireland film cinema release dates: latest updates for 2026”. Screen. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  13. ^ “Instagram”. www.instagram.com. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  14. ^ Roxborough, Scott (January 20, 2026). “‘There’s a Nervousness Right Now’: Tricia Tuttle on Why Studios Are Avoiding Festivals and What Berlin Can Deliver for Indies”. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  15. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (February 12, 2026). “12 Berlin Film Festival Movies to See: New Work from Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Huppert, Sandra Hüller, and More”. IndieWire. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  16. ^ Rolph, Ben (February 13, 2026). “Sunny Dancer – Review”. Next Best Picture. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  17. ^ Della Corte, Laura (February 13, 2026). “Berlin Film Festival 2026: Sunny Dancer | Review”. The Upcoming. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  18. ^ Felperin, Leslie (February 13, 2026). “Sunny Dancer Review: Bella Ramsey Stars as a Teen Cancer Survivor in a Sentimental but Sporadically Bracing Coming-of-Ager”. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  19. ^ Baughan, Nikki. “Sunny Dancer review: Bella Ramsey heads confident and upbeat UK teen drama”. Screen. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  20. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (February 13, 2026). “Sunny Dancer review – ‘chemo camp’ gives teen drama a fresh spin”. The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  21. ^ Billington, Alex (February 14, 2026). “Berlinale 2026: Sunny Dancer is a Near Perfect Coming-of-Age Story”. FirstShowing.net. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  22. ^ Seghedoni, Serena (February 15, 2026). “Sunny Dancer Review: Cast Shines in ‘Chemo Camp’ Dramedy”. Loud And Clear Reviews. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  23. ^ Zilko, Christian (February 18, 2026). “Sunny Dancer Review: Bella Ramsey Shines in a Sincere Coming-of-Age Story About Life After Chemo”. IndieWire. Retrieved February 18, 2026.