Molly Manning Walker
Molly Manning Walker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Molly Andi Amy Manning-Walker 14 September 1993 |
| Alma mater | |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Family | Charlie Manning-Walker (brother) |
Molly Manning Walker (born 14 September 1993) is a British film director, writer, and cinematographer. Her debut feature film How to Have Sex (2023) won the Un Certain Regard Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and the European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI at the 36th European Film Awards. In 2024, she earned two nominations at the 77th British Academy Film Awards for How to Have Sex, including Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
Early life and education
Manning Walker was born in the West London Borough of Ealing, the daughter of theatre and film creatives Andy Walker and Lesley Manning. Her older brother Charlie Manning-Walker is a member of the band Chubby and the Gang.[1]
Manning Walker attended Elthorne Park High School[2] and St Augustine's Priory.[3][4] She was interested in photography in school and invited to photograph an Occupy London event, which Manning Walker turned into a documentary.[5] She went on to study Cinematography at Arts University Bournemouth, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 2015, and the National Film and Television School, graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) in 2018.[6]
Career
Manning rose to prominence as a cinematographer before attracting acclaim for her directing, shooting dozens of short films and music videos from the early 2010s until the early 2020s.[7]
In 2023, Manning served as the cinematographer on Charlotte Regan's debut feature Scrapper.[8]
Her debut feature, How to Have Sex, was developed with Film4. How to Have Sex won the Un Certain Regard Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and the European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI at the 36th European Film Awards. In 2024, she earned two nominations at the 77th British Academy Film Awards for How to Have Sex, including Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
In 2025, Manning was selected as the head of the jury for the Un Certain Regard section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival.[9][10][11]
Manning began developing her first television series with A24 and Channel 4 in 2025, titled Major Players.[12][13][14] The series will "follows two girls on the brink of adulthood and their mission to start a women’s football team."[15] Production on the series began in September of that year.[16]
Personal life
Manning Walker co-founded the Sunday league football team Babes City FC.[17]
Walker chose Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank (2009) as her top film of all time when asked by Criterion.[18]
Filmography
Short films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Cinematographer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Out of Tune | No | No | Yes | |
| 2015 | More Hate Than Fear | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Khadejah | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2016 | The Worlds My Oyster | Yes | No | Yes | Documentary short |
| Softly Softly Catchy Monkey | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2017 | Lead | No | No | Yes | |
| Cabin Pressure | No | No | Yes | ||
| Shrink | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2018 | Reach | No | No | Yes | |
| Uneatable | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2019 | My Mother | No | No | Yes | |
| La Entrevista | No | No | Yes | ||
| Seven | No | No | Yes | ||
| Deep Clean | No | No | Yes | ||
| City of Children | No | No | Yes | Documentary short | |
| One Liner | No | No | Yes | ||
| November 1st | No | No | Yes | ||
| Pompeii | No | No | Yes | ||
| Our Sister | No | No | Yes | ||
| Absent | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2020 | The Forgotten C | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Acrimonious | No | No | Yes | ||
| Good Thanks, You? | Yes | Yes | No |
Feature films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Cinematographer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Scrapper | No | No | Yes |
| 2025 | How to Have Sex | Yes | Yes | No |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Cinematographer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Kwaye, "Little Ones" | No | No | Yes |
| 2018 | Tom Walker, "My Way" | No | No | Yes |
| 2018 | A$AP Rocky, "Sundress" | No | No | Yes |
| 2019 | James Blake, "Can't Believe the Way We Flow" | No | No | Yes |
| 2020 | 645AR ft. FKA Twigs, "Sum Bout U" | No | No | Yes |
TV
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Cinematographer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | Major Players | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Awards
Her 2020 short film Good Thanks, You? was selected at the Critics' Week in Cannes.[19] Her grad film November 1st took Bronze at the Student Academy Awards,[20] and Manning-Walker was nominated at Camerimage in 2019.[21] Her debut feature film How to Have Sex (2023) won the Un Certain Regard Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and the European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI at the 36th European Film Awards.[22]
In 2024, she received two nominations at the 77th British Academy Film Awards for How to Have Sex, including Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.[23]
References
- ^ Gallagher, Alex (4 August 2021). "Listen to Chubby and the Gang's lovelorn new song 'I Hate the Radio'". NME.
- ^ "Students speak of pressure after landmark film 'How To Have Sex' discusses consent". ITV News. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Young Ealing film-maker seeks backing for film on sexual harassment". Ealing Times. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "The Drama Department". St Augustine's Priory. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ Zerenghi, Francesca (14 March 2020). "Meet Director of Photography: Molly Manning Walker". Cinegirl. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ Hanoun, Marianne (17 October 2019). "Collaborate, be chilled and emotionally connected: Molly Manning Walker, freelance DOP". Creative Lives – In Progress. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "A first-time filmmaker in Cannes: Molly Manning Walker on her breakthrough 'How to Have Sex'". Richmond News. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ ""Our Process Revolved Around Letting the Kids Be Kids": DP Molly Manning Walker on Scrapper". Filmmaker Magazine. 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Calnan, Ellie. "Molly Manning Walker to lead Un Certain Regard jury at Cannes Film Festival". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Bergeson, Samantha (2025-04-29). "Molly Manning Walker to Serve as Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury President". IndieWire. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (2025-04-29). "'How to Have Sex' Director Molly Manning Walker Heads Up Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (2025-06-02). "A24 Teaming With 'How To Have Sex's Molly Manning Walker On Women's Soccer Series For Channel 4". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (2025-06-02). "'How to Have Sex' Director Molly Manning Walker Sets Debut TV Series 'Major Players' With A24, Channel 4". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Calnan, Ellie. "Molly Manning Walker to direct women's football series 'Major Players' for A24, Channel 4". Screen. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ "Channel 4 scores first TV series from How to Have Sex writer and director Molly Manning Walker". C21media. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Daniels, Nia (2025-09-16). "Molly Manning Walker's Major Players begins production for C4". The Knowledge Online. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Cotonou, Chris (9 September 2023). "Molly Manning Walker: A New Direction". A Rabbit's Foot. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Molly Manning Walker's Top 10". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie. "Cannes Critics' Week reveals 2020 label selection". Screen. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- ^ "ACADEMY REVEALS 2019 STUDENT ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- ^ "Molly Manning Walker". British Cinematographer. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- ^ Barraclough, Leo (2023-12-09). "Molly Manning Walker's 'How to Have Sex' Wins Discovery Prize at European Film Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (2024-01-19). "'How to Have Sex' Director Molly Manning Walker on 'Unexpected' BAFTA Nominations and What's Next: 'I Want Everyone to Question What We're Making'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-02-02.