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Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, known for his roles in “The Queen’s Gambit” and “Steal,” leads the cast of “Cloud 99,” a dystopian short from the National Film and Television School written and directed by Leila Murton Poole.
The film also stars Olivia Popica (“The Wheel of Time,” “Liaison”) and Jayda Eyles (“Breeders”) as Fortune-Lloyd’s on-screen family, with Tim Berrington (“The Diplomat,” “Succession”) playing their eccentric neighbor.
The story takes place in a community where residents pay for access to sunlight. A father goes to extreme lengths to support his daughter’s entry in a school competition to grow sunflowers. The narrative combines intimate character drama with satirical social commentary on inequality, environmental disaster, and survival within exclusionary systems.
Milly Pope produces the project, her second collaboration with Murton Poole after their dystopian short “Earth,” which received a best student short nomination at the BAFTA-qualifying Norwich Film Festival and was selected for Manchester Film Festival.
“I’m drawn to exploring real-world issues in worlds that feel slightly askew – places that are recognisable yet unsettling,” said Murton Poole.
Simon Higgins handled casting. “The stories I tell live in stylized worlds that need to feel believable,” Murton Poole said. “Simon has an instinct for finding actors who can hold emotion and authenticity within heightened spaces.”
Murton Poole called the cast “an absolute joy” to work with, commending their ability to “bring grounded performances to a world that could so easily feel abstract.”
The production shot on 35mm at The Modern Appletree in Henley, where the crew converted a garden into two adjacent properties to create an outdoor set.
“Shooting on film was a top priority for me,” Murton Poole said. “In a world where sunlight is a character, film has an inimitable way of capturing it.”
Carolina Lobo Nunes served as cinematographer. “The shoot relied heavily on the Great British weather,” said Murton Poole, “and on our incredible cinematographer, Carolina Lobo Nunes, who somehow managed to control it.”
The film is completing post-production and will premiere at the NFTS 2026 graduation showcase at the British Film Institute in March before beginning its festival run.
English (US) ·