SUNLIGHT
I became familiar with Nina Conti through Instagram. Her hilarious ventriloquism act has me doubled over with each new clip. She improvises each live show in multiple voices and unpredictable audience member volunteers, and it will blow you away. Monkey is her original creation, and in her directorial debut, SUNLIGHT, Nina uses him as a vessel to mask incredibly dark trauma. The result is emotional brilliance and endless laughter.
Roy hates his life. He brings some serious childhood baggage, and his job as a radio interviewer sucks the life out of him. As he attempts suicide in a motel room, he catches a glimpse of a life-sized Monkey through his window. As he comes to, Roy finds said Monkey driving his airstream down the empty roads. The audience quickly comes to realize this is not a hallucination but a woman dressed in a costume and putting on a voice.
The woman in the suit is Jane. She uses Monkey as a coping mechanism to flee her stepfather, and the root of all her sadness. Both Roy and Jane have specific plans that are so outrageous that they agree to accompany one another on their journeys. Roy plans to dig up his abusive cop father and steal the watch he thought he had inherited. Jane wants to find a way to buy a pontoon boat and run banana boat rides as Monkey.
SUNLIGHT launches headfirst into one of the weirdest narratives I’ve ever seen. But simply calling it weird is a disservice to the complexity behind these characters. Conti and Allen co-wrote the story. It is easy to see why Christopher Guest executive produces. This creative pairing perfectly slots in with Guest’s brand of humor. The chemistry between Conti and Allen is instantaneous, even with the added physical barrier of Monkey. These are two pros bouncing weirdness off of each other.
Shenoah Allen gives Roy a lived-in exhaustion. There is a gentleness that pulls you into his sphere. Conti is phenomenal as she navigates comedy through the suit, but also manages to rip your heart out. She uses humor to convey the hurt. It is a love story between two deeply wounded adults. Allen and Conti do not hold back in the dialogue. They take risks in every beat.
SUNLIGHT is a wonderfully unique road movie that delves into the reality that most of us idle in our loneliness. Finding your people is essential for truly living. Packed with profound revelation and shocking twists and turns, SUNLIGHT is one of the most heartwarming and funniest films ever.
Sunlight Trailer:
A darkly comic love story between a man and a woman who doesn’t want to come out of a monkey suit
Coming To Theaters June 6, 2025
Sunrise Films is excited to announce the U.S. theatrical release of SUNLIGHT, the darkly hilarious and unconventional love story from acclaimed British actress, comedian, and ventriloquist Nina Conti, presented by Christopher Guest. Following its opening at the Edinburgh Film Festival, SUNLIGHT will debut in New York City theaters on June 6, followed by a Los Angeles premiere on June 13. Additional markets are to be announced.
Marking Conti’s feature directorial debut, SUNLIGHT reimagines “Monkey”—the iconic character from her renowned ventriloquist act—as the human-sized alter ego of a woman on the run from a toxic relationship. Conti, who began her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before becoming an inventive comedy performer, co-wrote, directed, and stars in the film, delivering a bold dual performance as both the woman and the monkey.
Conti stars alongside her longtime creative collaborator Shenoah Allen, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Allen, a Barry Award-winning comedian and one half of the cult comedy duo Pajama Men, plays Roy, a suicidal radio host who becomes Jane’s unlikely companion.
Set against the quirky backdrop of Albuquerque, New Mexico, SUNLIGHT is a road movie with heart, humor, and absurdist flair. Jane (Conti) meets Roy (Allen) at a low point in both their lives. Disguised in a full-body monkey suit and eager to escape her past, Jane hits the road with Roy in his Airstream trailer. As they chase a fresh start—and hatch a risky scheme to fund it—Jane’s possessive ex looms close behind. Equal parts eccentric and emotionally resonant, SUNLIGHT is a natural, inspired extension of Conti’s sell-out stage act.
SUNLIGHT is produced by Sam Parker for Anyway Content, Will Machin for Metro International, Keagan Karnes for Inspirado, Tabitha McDonald and Conti, with Christopher Guest serving as executive producer. Cinematography is by James Kwan, with editing by Riaz Meer, composition by Christoph Bauschinger and music by Radiohead, Aphex Twin & The Pixies.
“We are delighted to bring Nina and Shenoah’s wonderfully funny and charming road trip movie to audiences in the U.S. and Canada,” said Andrew Nerger, Head of U.S. & International Distribution at Sunrise Films. “It’s a laugh-a-minute ride. We fell in love with the film from the very first screening and can’t wait for audiences to meet the mischievous Monkey and the world-weary Roy this summer.”
The U.S. distribution deal was negotiated by Andrew Nerger on behalf of Sunrise Films and Will Machin, CEO of Metro International.
ABOUT SUNRISE FILMS
Sunrise Films is a new, internationally focused production, distribution, and sales company launched by Rupert Preston and Nigel Williams.
The company produced high-stakes thriller THE ACCUSED, directed by BOILING POINT and ADOLESCENCE’S Philip Barantini, which debuted on Netflix in the UK, ANZ, and Canada in 2023. Sunrise also produced George Amponsah’s GASSED UP, which released theatrically in the UK through Vertigo Releasing in early 2024 and debuted afterwards on Amazon Prime.
On the distribution side, Sunrise has released a multitude of titles across North America including Luna Carmoon’s BAFTA-nominated debut HOARD featuring rising star Joseph Quinn, action thriller SUNRAY: FALLEN SOLDIER, which was created by and stars former Royal Marines Commandos, Julia Jackman’s coming of age queer rom-com BONUS TRACK, BAFTA-winning drama AFTER LOVE, and César-nominated Iranian crime drama LAW OF TEHRAN. Sunrise next plans to release Freddy Macdonald’s buzzy SXSW debut SEW TORN and coming of age drama LAST SWIM which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2024 to wide acclaim.
Rupert Preston is also the CEO of Vertigo Releasing and he has produced over 25 films including BRONSON, THE SWEENEY, PUSHER, HORRID HENRY: THE MOVIE, and MONSTERS. Nigel Williams is the Chairman of Vertigo Releasing and Protagonist Pictures.
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