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.
Manning Walker attended Elthorne Park High School and then the private school St Augustine's Priory. She was interested in photography in school and invited to photograph an Occupy London event, which Manning Walker turned into a documentary. She went on to study Cinematography at Arts University Bournemouth, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 2015, and the National Film and Television School, graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 2018.
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.
In 2023, Manning served as the cinematographer on Charlotte Regan's debut feature Scrapper.
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.
Manning began developing her first television series with A24 and Channel 4 in 2025, titled Major Players. The series will "follows two girls on the brink of adulthood and their mission to start a women’s football team." Production on the series began in September of that year.
In April 2026, it was announced that A24 and Plan B would produce Walker's next movie, Not Another F**king Wedding. The two companies previously worked together for the films Moonlight (2016) and Minari (2020).
Personal life Manning Walker co-founded the Sunday league football team Babes City FC.
Walker chose Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank (2009) as her top film of all time when asked by Criterion.
Filmography Short films Year Title Director Writer Cinematographer Notes2012Out of Tune2015More Hate Than Fear Khadejah 2016The Worlds My Oyster Documentary shortSoftly Softly Catchy Monkey 2017Lead Cabin Pressure Shrink 2018Reach Uneatable 2019My Mother La Entrevista Seven Deep Clean City of Children Documentary shortOne Liner November 1st Pompeii Our Sister Absent 2020The Forgotten C Acrimonious Good Thanks, You?
Feature films Year Title Director Writer Cinematographer2023Scrapper 2023 How to Have Sex Music videos Year Title Director Writer Cinematographer2017Kwaye, "Little Ones" 2018Tom Walker, "My Way" 2018A$AP Rocky, "Sundress" 2019James Blake, "Can't Believe the Way We Flow" 2020645AR ft. FKA Twigs, "Sum Bout U" TV Year Title Director Writer CinematographerTBAMajor Players
Awards Her 2020 short film Good Thanks, You? was selected at the Critics' Week in Cannes. Her grad film took Bronze at the Student Academy Awards, and Manning-Walker was nominated at Camerimage in 2019. 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 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.
References
External links Good thanks, you? on IMDB Good thanks, you? (full film) on Vimeo