Masc: Bertil Nilsson's debut follows Robin through work, family and identity

London photographer and filmmaker Bertil Nilsson has stepped up to his first feature with Masc, the story of a young man called Robin.

Joshua Griffin stars as Robin. The film stays close to him through work, family and dating as he tests different versions of manhood. It is a small, character-led piece built around one life rather than a large ensemble.

Griffin leads a tight central cast. Tega Alexander plays Benji, a key figure in Robin's circle. Lincoln Conway plays Robin's father. The three casting credits were set out by Variety in its review published on 13 September 2026.

Nilsson directs the film and takes the writing credit. The script is based on a story he crafted together with Griffin, Variety reports. In film credits, the director guides performance and camera. A story credit points to who first shaped the idea before the full script was written.

Robin is described as queer, biracial and neurodivergent. Queer is used here as a broad term for sexuality and identity outside straight norms. Biracial means having family roots in two different racial backgrounds. Neurodivergent means the brain learns, processes or responds in a way that differs from what is seen as typical. Those three threads feed how Robin is seen and how he sees himself.

Day to day life is unsettled. Robin moves through temporary jobs and tentative relationships, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter on 2 September 2026. Short contracts come and go. Connections start without a clear shape. People enter and leave quickly. The film's own synopsis describes Robin as caught between different ideas of masculinity, per Nilsson's official site.

For Nilsson, the project is a change of scale. Masc is listed as his feature debut, which means his first full-length film for cinemas rather than a short film. He is London-based and works across both photography and film, according to his press materials. A debut of this kind often decides what a director is offered next, since producers, sales agents and festival programmers watch first features closely.

What makes this stand out for a general viewer is the simplicity of the set-up. One lead. Two close relationships at home and outside it. A run of jobs and first meetings that do not settle. For fans, this means a first chance to meet a new director and a young cast at the start of longer screen careers.