Animol

Directed by Ashley Walters
United Kingdom
2026
92 mins
Adolescence star Ashley Walters refreshes the prison genre with his tense and tender directorial debut, featuring Stephen Graham. FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film, Berlinale 2026.

Inside a British young offender institution, Troy (Tut Nyuot) is plunged into a world governed by gangs, shifting loyalties and the threat of violence. Tested from the moment he arrives, he’s paired with a menacing cellmate and drawn into the prison’s brutal hierarchy, where even small alliances can carry consequences. An increasingly close bond with another inmate offers welcome refuge but also exposes Troy to new danger. As welfare officer Claypole (Graham, Adolescence) tries to help Troy with his estranged mother, the young man is pushed towards impossible choices in a place where trust is fragile and survival comes at a cost. Taut, stylish and empathetic, Animol rises above the prison drama crowd.

It has power, ferocity, almost unbearable tension and a vein of tenderness.
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

Tickets

Thu 4 June 2026, 8:30pm
Event George St - Cinema 9
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
Sun 7 June 2026, 6:10pm
Ritz Randwick - Cinema 3
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
  • Program Strand
  • Year
    2026
  • Classification
    Unclassified 18+
  • Country
    UK
  • Language
    In English
  • Director
    Ashley Walters
  • Producer
    Tom Hawkins, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Nick Love, Ashley Walters
  • Cast
    Tut Nyuot, Vladyslav Baliuk, Stephen Graham
  • Screenwriter
    Nick Love
  • Cinematographer
    Tasha Back
  • Editor
    Danielle Palmer
  • Composer
    Swindle
  • Genre
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    Sales Agent: Bankside Films
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