independent cinema
A graduate of the NFTS, Director and Writer Ani Laurie is a British filmmaker. Ani has a passion for telling stories. She is a narrative and visual driven filmmaker, born and based in London. Her films have screened to National and international audiences. Ani’s passion for cinema began during her time at drama club at the tender age of 11. It was here, on the set of English Television series ‘The Bill’, that Ani decided she would either become an actor or a director. After a stint working at a senior level for Universal Pictures, Ani redirected her career to fulfil her childhood passion. In 2013 and 2014 Ani was awarded a scholarship by noteworthy producer Mr Duncan Kenworthy (OBE) of Notting Hill, Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral. It was at NFTS where Ani honed her craft with four short films: The Wheel (Super 16mm), BLUE (Super 16MM), Pedigree and The Earth Belongs to No One. She has received early acclaim as a new rising British Talent with the screening of her Film Pedigree at BAFTA / NFTS 2014 Talent showcase. Ani studied under the guardianship of Ian Sellar, Brian
Tuffano and Mr Stephen Frears. Ani was recently nominated for the BAFTA New Talent contest. Ani Laurie is based in London. She is currently developing her first feature with a production company.
Nominated for Best British Short at Raindance Film Festival, The Earth Belongs To No One is a dreamlike work of profound psychological depth. With one startling, painterly composition after another, Ani Laurie creates a drama of extraordinary tactility, mixing emotionality and stark realism. Superbly shot in soft light, and acted with astonishing nuance by Alana Boden (Mr Selfridge) and Jessica Barden (The Lobster), The Earth Belongs To No One is an enchanting, atmospheric work of cinema. Ani, can you tell us what attracted you to this particular story? Thank you that’s a quite an introduction. I knew I wanted to make a film which conveyed a sense of Love and sacrifice. The characters had a stronghold on me. I wanted to make a character driven film that was psychological. These are the films I am most drawn to. In the case of ‘The Earth Belongs To No One’ I wanted both characters to have a journey. In addition, I wanted to tell