FILMD Chats

In this episode of FILMD Chats, we sit down with Neil Jeram-Croft, director of Manchester Film Festival, to unpack how festivals really work and what filmmakers often misunderstand about them. From the early days of building MFF from scratch to scaling it into an 11-day festival screening 150 films, Neil shares what actually matters when submitting your work. We talk about the mistakes filmmakers...

Luís Hindman went from making home movies on an iPod to winning a BIFA and earning a BAFTA nomination. In this episode, he breaks down the real journey behind the success. The six projects that were rejected. The years spent making music videos to sharpen his craft. The moment he realised writing mattered more than technical skill. And why finding what you dislike in film might be the key to findi...

In this episode, Founder & CEO Craig Heyworth pulls back the curtain on why FILMD exists and how the platform helps filmmakers move from script to screen. Craig shares the reality of training hard, then hitting the “who you know” wall and how that frustration became a mission to build a home for filmmaking where people can connect, collaborate and create without waiting for gatekeepers. We bre...

On this episode of FILMD Chats, British actor Jaskiranjit Singh Deol joins us for a frank conversation about craft, confidence and career-defining choices. Jaskiranjit opens up about the discipline it takes to stay ready, the reality behind “making it”, and the surprising truth that sometimes success can feel scary when it finally arrives. We dig into how he approached a soap role with premium-dra...

Director, writer and producer Shih-Ching Tsou joins FILMD Chats to talk about Left Handed Girl, the indie feature now on Netflix, and the long road it took to get there. From growing up in Taipei to studying in New York and meeting Sean Baker, Shih-Ching Tsou shares how a story can live with you for decades until the timing finally aligns, and why “real life” choices (real locations, small crews,...

In this episode of the FILMD Podcast, Zain sits down with filmmaker Walt Perez to unpack a career built on grit, representation and relentless self-belief. From teaching himself the craft through DVD special features to launching his own banner, Verloren Productions, Walter shares how he went from early no-budget comedies to award-winning shorts on the festival circuit. He talks about adapting a S...

In this episode of FILMD Chats, director, cinematographer and writer Gurjant Singh (New Line Films / Wolverhampton Film Festival) breaks down how he built a filmmaking career with no contacts, no clear plan, and a lot of stubborn persistence. He shares how dropping out of a business degree, shooting weddings to pay the bills and sneaking video work on the side eventually led him back to film schoo...

This week on FILMD Chats, writer–director Rob Ayling breaks down a director’s most honest promise, the opening shot and how to make it declare the film’s thesis, set rules, and prime expectation from second one. He shows how Living in Crime Alley and Punching Bag use a singular first image to set tone and then flip what viewers think they’re getting hook first, subvert later. Rob shares a practica...

Writer and director Jack Howard joins FILMD for a practical conversation about getting work finished and seen. We dig into the habits and systems that move a short from draft to delivery, how to run lean sets without losing ambition, and the collaboration essentials that lift performance and picture. Jack shares his approach to character (before plot), shaping endings that land, and surviving note...

Writer-director Ash Connaughton shares the realities of building a filmmaking career without the usual support systems. From navigating a lack of formal training to creating work outside traditional funding routes, Ash discusses what it means to take control of your process, find your audience, and stay focused on the work that matters. This is a conversation about craft, persistence, and making s...

BAFTA-winning producer Hayder Rothschild Hoozeer joins FILMD Chat to unpack the “15-year overnight success”: from runner lugging kit in Margate to building Who’s Here Films, studying at NFTS on a BAFTA scholarship, and learning to trust his taste. We go inside the making of Rock, Paper, Scissors, a true story on the Ukrainian frontline and why casting Ukrainian, filming in Ukrainian, and working w...

In this FILMD Chats episode, we sit down with Joseph Ollman, BAFTA Cymru nominated writer, director and actor, to unpack the realities of building a career across disciplines in today’s film industry. From his early shorts Throw Me to the Dogs and Meat on Bones to his growing body of acting work, Joseph reflects on the lessons that shaped his craft: the power of collaboration, directing non-profes...

In this episode of FILMD Chats, we sit down with award-winning director and BAFTA Connect member Sherice Griffiths to explore the unfiltered realities of forging a career in independent film. With a background in comedy and a portfolio spanning branded content, short films and TV pilots, Sherice shares valuable lessons from her own journey from making the leap out of a 9-5 creative job to directin...

In this episode of FILMD Chats, Zain sit's down with award-winning filmmaker Nicolai Schumann, writer and director of The Lonely Musketeer, a gripping psychological thriller crafted with one actor, one room, and a whole lot of creative risk. Nicolai shares the story behind skipping the short film route and diving straight into feature filmmaking. Revealing the challenges of writing in isolation, p...

In this episode, Fahim Fazli shares his extraordinary journey from fleeing Afghanistan as a refugee to building a successful acting career in Hollywood, with credits including Iron Man, American Sniper, Argo, and Superman. Through candid storytelling, he reflects on cultural barriers, rejection in the industry, and the discipline that guided his path. He also reveals the six key questions every as...

In this episode of FILMD Chat, we sit down with actor Andy Ellis to unpack his journey from breakout role to seasoned performer. Best known for his powerful portrayal of Gadget in This Is England, Andy shares how working with Shane Meadows shaped his approach to acting, collaboration, and storytelling. He opens up about growing up on set, navigating the emotional demands of the role, and what it m...

Writer-producer Ellie Kitchener and director Lucy Walsh join us to share their unconventional paths into the industry from forming creative partnerships during lockdown to launching their own production company. They discuss the importance of originality in today’s film landscape, the challenges of short-form storytelling, and why filmmakers need to take more creative risks. A must-watch for anyon...

In Episode 18 of FILMD Chats, we sit down with filmmakers Su Moffitt and John Curran, the creative duo behind the Dragonfly International Film Festival. With years of experience spanning music videos, short films, and independent features, they offer an honest and practical look into what it really takes to carve out a career in today’s film industry without relying on traditional routes. They dis...

Zain sits down with Karren Karagulian, acclaimed actor and long-time collaborator of director Sean Baker, for an unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to survive in independent film. From moving to New York as a young immigrant to finding his voice on screen without any formal training, Karren shares his extraordinary path to becoming a central figure in some of the most celebrated in...

In this inspiring episode of FILMD Chats, we sit down with Matthew Simpson: actor, director, producer, and the one-man crew behind Disremember, an award-winning indie feature made entirely solo. Matt shares the incredible story of how he took complete control of the filmmaking process from scriptwriting and directing to acting, shooting, editing, and even set design. We dive into the highs and low...

In this episode of FILMD Chats, we sit down with science consultant and former British Army officer Geoff McBride to unpack the fascinating (and often flawed) relationship between science and cinema. From Armageddon to Interstellar, Geoff dissects common misconceptions in the science genre—like artificial gravity, sound in space, and the myth of the space elevator—revealing what filmmakers often g...

In this episode of FILMD Chats, director and editor Luke Bather shares how an unconventional start in music led him to award-winning short films and industry recognition. Luke walks us through the early days of self-taught filmmaking, the challenges of building a directing career outside traditional pathways, and what he's learned about casting, collaboration, and the film festival circuit. A must...

In this powerful episode of FILMD Chats, BAFTA-nominated actor Amit Shah joins us for a candid, inspiring conversation on what it really takes to build a career in acting. From his first improv class at 14 to starring in Happy Valley, Amit unpacks the personal and professional lessons that shaped his journey — and shares the wisdom he wishes he’d had starting out. We talk: • Navigating the industr...

In this deeply personal and illuminating episode of FILMD Chats, we sit down with East London filmmaker Remi Moses — writer, director, and producer — whose work blends intimate family drama with grounded horror. From his early days shooting YouTube content during the DSLR revolution to screening films at Slamdance and exploring the complexities of disability through cinema, Remi opens up about the...

What does it take to go from an aspiring writer to directing a BBC-backed short film? In this episode, we sit down with Eoin Doran to break down his unconventional journey into the industry. Eoin shares how his first pay cheque came from chasing a man dressed as a spanner, why he wrote 20 short films before feeling ready for a feature, and how a bold pitch convinced the BBC to take a chance on him...