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Animol

Perspectives 2026
© Anthony Dickenson
Behind the walls of a young offender institution, Troy (Tut Nyuot) is thrust into a brutal world of gangs, loyalty and violence. From the moment he arrives, he is tested. Paired with a volatile cellmate, Troy is forced to deal with daily threats and power struggles. An unspoken bond with a fellow inmate offers solace in the oppressive environment, but their growing connection becomes a dangerous vulnerability. As Troy’s welfare officer Claypole tries to reconnect him with his estranged mother, Troy is increasingly caught up in the institution’s brutal hierarchy and is eventually forced to make impossible choices. And when violence erupts, Troy finds himself isolated and confronting his deepest fears. In this unforgiving world, where survival means betrayal and trust can be weaponised, Troy must navigate a path between the person he once was and the one he is in danger of becoming.
by Ashley Walters (Director), Nick Love (Screenplay)
with Tut Nyuot, Vladyslav Baliuk, Sekou Diaby, Stephen Graham, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Ryan Dean United Kingdom 2026 English 90' Colour World premiere | Debut film

With

  • Tut Nyuot (Troy)
  • Vladyslav Baliuk (Krystian)
  • Sekou Diaby (Dion)
  • Stephen Graham (Claypole)
  • Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Joy)
  • Ryan Dean (Mason)

Crew

Director Ashley Walters
Screenplay Nick Love
Cinematography Tasha Back
Editing Danielle Palmer
Music Swindle
Sound Design Roland Heap
Production Design Gini Godwin
Costumes Camille Adomakoh
Make-Up Cynthia De La Rosa
Casting Heather Basten
Producers Tom Hawkins, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Nick Love, Ashley Walters
Executive Producers Laura Grange, Julia Stuart, Sabrina Parmer, David Kimbangi, Ollie Madden, Louise Ortega

Produced by

Joi Productions

London, United Kingdom

World Sales

Bankside Films

London, United Kingdom

Photos

Ashley Walters

© Jamie Keith

The actor, producer, director and musician is a key figure in Black London culture and the British entertainment industry. He rose to prominence in the early 2000s with the UK garage and hip-hop collective So Solid Crew and made his breakthrough as an actor in the feature film Bullet Boy. He starred in all five seasons of the series Top Boy and in Adolescence, and founded his own production company in 2017. He made his directorial debut with the short film Boys. His first feature as a director is Animol.

Filmography

2021 Boys; short film 2025 A Thousand Blows; TV Series 2026 Animol

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026