Extra Geography marks the debut feature for director Molly Manners, with a screenplay by Miriam Battye (Succession), adapted from a 2007 short story by Rose Tremain. The film makes its world premiere this week in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
Unfolding in the cloistered world of an English all-girls boarding school in 2003, the story traces the inseparable bond between best friends Minna and Flic, whose shared desire to become “worldly” propels them into a pact to fall in love. Their quest for romance collides with the intoxicating excitement of auditioning for the school’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, while their attention drifts toward the enigmatic geography teacher, Miss Delavigne. Against the backdrop of adolescent curiosity and the charged atmosphere of teenage performance, the film captures the delicate balance of intimacy and rivalry, the shifting loyalties that test even the closest friendships, and the bittersweet awkwardness of crossing the threshold into adulthood. With its blend of humor and poignancy, the narrative illuminates the “sweet and spiky” nature of female friendship, where tenderness and competitiveness coexist in equal measure.
The lead roles are played by breakout newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear. They star as 14-year-old best friends named Flic and Minna. The supporting cast includes Alice Englert as Miss Delavigne and Aoife Riddell as Phoebe.
Manners has received wide recognition for her work in television. She won a BAFTA for Best Drama Series for the second season of In My Skin on BBC3 and Hulu. The show was praised for its emotional depth and strong storytelling.
She also earned two BAFTA nominations for directing four episodes of the Netflix series One, including a nomination for Best Director. In addition, her work on the series secured her the RTS Best Director award. These honors highlight her growing reputation as a leading director in the industry.
Developed by Sarah Brocklehurst (The Outrun) of Brock Media and written by WGA–winning playwright and TV writer Miriam Battye (Succession), the project brings together two distinctive creative voices whose collaboration promises a sharp, witty, and emotionally resonant narrative.
Executive producers attached to the film are Louise Ortega for the BFI, Farhana Bhula for Film4, Marlon Vogelgesang and Charles Dorfman for Media Finance Capital, along with Caroline Cooper Charles for Screen Yorkshire, Philip Burgin, Benji Strange, and Tom Harberd for Foundry Media.