SIMON SMITH

Bio

Simon is an EMMY and BAFTA-winning editor turned director. His editing work includes STAR WARS: ANDOR, HELP, and CHERNOBYL. Using everything he’s learned working with some of the best filmmakers, he is now focusing his attention on directing.

Simon likes to create unique worlds and grammar with his work and loves magical realism. His earlier directing work includes a Channel 4 documentary played out entirely in split-screen, and an immersive theatre production performed to an audience in a working launderette.

Currently working on

His short film MURMUR is being sent out to festivals and he is in the prep stages of an immersive theatre production for The Brighton Fringe festival. Currently developing more short films and seeking television drama directing work.

ARIJ AL-SOLTAN

Bio

Arij Al-Soltan is a British-Iraqi producer and documentary director whose films – both fiction and documentary- seek to offer alternative narratives and provoke a sense of self-introspection. Her credits include the critically acclaimed C4, Rose d’Or nominated drama series BAGHDAD CENTRAL, documentaries KOREAN LOVERS IN BAGHDAD, SAFIA and short fiction film TABBOULEH & PIE. Arij was a One World Media and Film4 bursary grantee and is currently developing a short fiction film in collaboration with BFI.

Arij works with a number of emerging British, Middle Eastern and international talents to produce films that offer unexplored perspectives.

Currently working on

Currently in post-production WEDAD, a co-production between BFI NETWORK and Barney Production, due to complete in early 2023. She is also developing a TV series with Viacom International Media Networks as well as a feature-length film entitled HASHED.

Writer-director

Wrote and directed BFI NETWORKfunded short WEDAD

Based in: Folkestone Contact: elias@suhail.tv

Elias Suhail

Bio

Elias is a British-Moroccan writer and filmmaker whose work explores the complexities of the human condition, liminalities and those who exist in the cultural margins.

His short story, “The horrors I have seen”, was shortlisted from more than 750 submissions for A Writing Chance in 2021 which offered Elias his first paid commission.

His dramatic monologue, “For even your own shadow will leave you in darkness (No Regrets)”, was performed as part of Margins to Mainstream with Michael Sheen at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. The piece was subsequently released on BBC Sounds.

Currently working on

His debut short film WEDAD wrapped production in Morocco in November 2022 and he hopes to be able to expand it into a feature. Elias is also developing a collection of short stories.

Writer-director

Wrote and directed BFI NETWORKfunded short DREAM BIG

Based in: Essex Contact: pipswallow@hotmail.com

Pip Swallow

Bio

Pip is a writer/director who trained as an actor before writing her debut short GREAT EXPECTATIONS, which won Edinburgh TV Festival’s New Voices Award for ‘Best Pilot’, and also screened at Tribeca, Underwire, Cambridge and Norwich Film Festivals. Her second short as writer and directorial debut, is the comedy-horror DAY OF THE 20,000 GAMMON. DREAM BIG was developed and funded by the BFI.

Currently working on

Pip is developing her first feature.