Este Haim Scores Berlinale Buzz with Debut Film

Sunny Dancer, the debut feature film from actor-turned-filmmaker George Jaques, is generating significant buzz ahead of its premiere at the Berlinale film festival. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Bella Ramsey, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Gunning, and James Norton.

Este Haim, known for her work with the band Haim, composed the film's score alongside Zachary Dawes. This marks another significant credit for Haim in screen composition, a field she entered during the pandemic. Her previous work includes composing for the Netflix series Maid and consulting on HBO's The White Lotus.

The film centers on Ivy, a 17-year-old cancer survivor who navigates a summer camp for young cancer patients. There, she finds unexpected friendships among a group of misfits. Jaques approached Haim after connecting through a mutual friend, exploring themes of young love and longing, which resonate with Haim's lyrical interests.

Haim described her collaboration with Dawes as experimental, initially producing sounds that director Jaques felt were too "American." They refined the score to incorporate elements like piano alongside other sounds, moving beyond pure sound design to create the right tone for the coming-of-age story. The film debuts Friday in Berlin.