PROJECTS

My second film, THE RED WARDROBE adapted from Sarah Corbett’s first collection of poems, is a magic-realist evocation of her childhood memories. Produced by Rebekah Wray Rogers, the film screened at Edinburgh and London film festivals, and travelled as far as Sao Paulo in Brazil and was later broadcast on Channel Four Television’s ‘Young Gifted and Broke’ in 1999.

My third short film HIGHRISE focused on a depressed single mother struggling to survive in poverty, alone with her baby who is confronted by a life-changing choice. This film won a Silver Hugo at Chicago Film Festival, screened internationally at more than 30 festivals and was broadcast in many territories worldwide.

After this I was accepted into the National Film and Television School, UK where I was trained by Stephen Frears, Udyan Prasad, Ian Sellar and Lone Scherfig gaining a Masters Degree in Fiction Direction. I was lucky enough to spend two years collaborating with talented writers and directing several short films, learning my craft. You can see some of these films in my Portfolio.

My first year film WIDE SKY about a young girl who discovers her mother’s affair won a NAHEMI award at Bristol Encounters festival and my graduation film THE WRONG SEA was nominated for best film at Poitiers, France.

After graduating, I won a commission from Kaos Films to direct the winning entry of the British Short Screenplay Competition, LIKE FATHER a half-hour drama written by James Walker. The film was produced by Jules Powell and Arif Hussien and shot on location in Bosnia with a Bosnian cast and British and Bosnian crew. It premiered at the BFI Film Theatre on London’s Southbank as part of an NFTS showcase and was later screened on Virgin Atlantic.

Following this I was commissioned to direct SCAPEGOAT a half-hour drama written by novelist Jeremy Page for Channel Four’s Coming Up new talent series. This modern fairy-tale of two sisters trying to reconnect after their father’s death features a talking goat.

My first feature screenplay KISMET a drama about a young British Asian mother who goes on the run with her young son, was shortlisted by Film London’s Microwave scheme in 2012 and I was invited to participate in ‘Microschool’ where I received further mentoring.

Thereafter I was selected by Screen Yorkshire for the ‘Triangle’ Feature Development Scheme where I teamed up with producer Rachel Connors and writer Jessica Edith Sinyard to develop a feature WILD DOG COUNTRY pitching the project to high-ranking industry decision makers.

During this time, I wrote and directed FALLING about a woman leaving her marriage for her lover with the help of an award from the John Brabourne Foundation. It screened in the London Film Festival and features a lovely performance from Emma Croft, you can see it here.

Returning to my first love of fairy-tales and coupling this with my passion for stories about the struggles of real-world women, I am currently making a trilogy of films, original modern fairy-tales inspired by indigenous folklore. About to be released DEER WOMAN CHILD starring Keeley Forsyth as Pryn, who while separated from her husband after several miscarriages, finds herself mysteriously pregnant.

Projects in development are THE RECKONING OF ERIN MORRIGAN starring Olwen Fouéré as a former IRA assassin who faces the ghosts of her past in a final spiritual reckoning; and RUN TO EARTH about a mysterious fugitive woman who is adopted by a pagan women’s commune.

Learn more about my current feature film projects below.