Berlinale 2026: ‘Sunny Dancer’ is a Near Perfect Coming-of-Age Story

by Alex Billington
February 14, 2026

Whether you like it or not, it’s time to grow up. And maybe it’s also time to learn to appreciate being alive on this planet and all the beautiful people on it. One of the best discoveries from the 2026 Berlin Film Festival (so far) is a little indie film from Scotland called Sunny Dancer made by young filmmaker George Jaques. This coming-of-age story following teens at a summer camp is actually way more than just another summer camp film – it’s also a cancer comedy that celebrates joy & love above all. Last year I wrote about the indie film subgenre of cancer comedies in my review of the documentary film Andre is an Idiot (it’s also really good). It’s actually quite useful and good to use comedy to deal with the unrelenting horribleness of cancer. The right filmmaker with the right vision can craft an unforgettably touching story utilizing comedy even when it involves cancer & terminal illness. Sunny Dancer is one of the best coming-of-age films I’ve seen in a while – a near perfect summer camp comedy that is as unique and refreshing as it is funny and endearing.

Sunny Dancer is written by and directed by and produced by George Jaques, a 25-year-old filmmaker from South London, now delivering his second feature film after his debut feature Black Dog (from 2023). 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 within a group of misfits and has a summer she’ll never forget. Bella Ramsey stars as Ivy, a grumpy-at-everyone-and-everything teen whose cancer is in remission but she still has to take her mds. Her goofball parents send her off to this camp for 4 weeks in August, despite her desire not to go. There she befriends a group of youngsters and realizes there’s so much to enjoy about life even living under the awful shadow of cancer – as they all are. Her new friends include cabin-mate Ella (Ruby Stokes) and four others: Lucy (Shalom Brune-Franklin), blue-eyed Jake (Daniel Quinn Toye), Archie (Conrad Khan), and Ralph (Earl Cave). Each of them feels natural and authentic embodying their characters, as if they were real kids they found at this summer camp to film with.

First things first, Bella Ramsey is extraordinary in the lead role in this film – they handle the weight of it all just right. Which takes real talent. Ramsey completely is Ivy, but also has to balance the complexity of the character as written, with the dynamic of the whole situation, the cliche angst of being a teen, and her own rebellious attitude, along with a little romance with another one of the campers. There’s an endless amount of ups & downs, an emotional roller coaster throughout with the character of Ivy, which may be easy enough to portray but much more challenging to make audiences believe her and feel all of those emotions with her. But by the end I was ready to celebrate them and shout from the rooftops about how exceptional Ramsey is. This is a major coming-of-age film to watch out for – this could be (and really deserves to be) as huge and beloved as Booksmart and Lady Bird. And the other teens are all so good in it, too. The only performances that aren’t up to par are from the adults, mainly the unimpressive turns from Neil Patrick Harris and James Norton, but they’re not in it that much so this doesn’t get in the way of any enjoyment of the rest of the film.

What I love the most about this film is that it can connect with and inspire anyone who is watching. Yes, it’s it’s another cancer comedy (they still keep making more of them) however everything about it is so fresh and vivid and entertaining. Joyful cinema. And I say this as carefully & warmly as I can – even though it’s about kids with cancer (or cancer in remission) it’s ultimately a life-affirming story for anyone & everyone even if you don’t have cancer (or know someone with cancer), too. It’s about finding yourself, being yourself, and finding the courage to live a beautiful life no matter what is getting you down, no matter what fears you have about the future. There’s plenty of wonderful humor & wholesome friendships, a great soundtrack of songs throughout, lessons about taking others as they are and getting into a bit of trouble. I am so deeply touched by this kind of upbeat filmmaking, that isn’t afraid of dealing with the darkness & horribleness of cancer and how quickly life can change, while celebrating the magnificent glory of being here & enjoying every moment we get to spend with others who make us happy. This is what life is all about – no matter what age you are.

Alex’s Berlinale 2026 Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Follow Alex on X – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing

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