OUR TEAM
We are a team of filmmakers who have recently been awarded a grant from Film London to shoot our beautifully scripted short film. Writer/Director Bijan Sheibani's work has included the acclaimed production of Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brothers Size in London and all across the UK and Europe. Tarell recently wrote the Oscar winning film Moonlight. At the National Theatre Bijan has directed Barber Shop Chronicles, The Kitchen, A Taste of Honey, Emil and the Detectives, Romeo and Juliet, and Our Class for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. He also directed The House of Bernarda Alba at the Almeida starring Oscar nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, Moonlight at the Donmar Theatre and Gone Too Far! at the Royal Court Theatre.
Through their production company Dauntless Pictures, Joanna Thapa and Ruth Sewell have created award-winning short film Countryphile and the short doc From the Bronx to Yale for The Guardian (Vimeo Staff Pick) among other projects. Individually Joanna has been the line producer on several independent feature films and an upcoming BBC2 series, while Ruth has been a producer and director on film projects for a number of brands including the NSPCC, the Green Party, and the Scout Association.
Associate Producers are the lovely and talented Melissa Woodside and Jessica Hodges.
Our cast is lead by the brilliant Jodhi May and rising star Georgie Farmer - check out our updates page for a few pics from our rehearsal.
WHY MAKE SAMIRA'S PARTY?
We are passionate about the subject matter, and feel that our timing couldn't be more urgent with the upheaval in social care policies affecting people in Britain. The complexity that living with a disability creates on an individual level is a subject that isn't explored enough in our culture. Our aim is to bring empathy and understanding to a complicated and specific issue - disability within the family - and yet to create a universal story about growing up. By contributing to our campaign you will be enabling this film to reach its full potential. The grant from Film London is enabling us to shoot the film this June so we have full funding place for principal photography. Your contribution will enable us to ensure that this film has the best post-production resources and the funding to be seen around the world, enabling us to reach the widest possible audience.
SUPPORT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We need to raise an extra £6,000. This money will specifically pay for:
Music licences - music is an integral part of the film and was used to great effect in Bijan's first short film Groove Is In the Heart (click on the title to play). There are two moments in Samira's Party that depend on using relatively well-known songs that would really elevate the film. Music licences aren't cheap sadly but we'd love to be able to cover the costs of our favourite song choices.
Post production & Distribution - this is an incredibly important part of the filmmaking process and one that we want to make sure is of the highest quality. We want to raise additional funds to give the project the time and talent to make it the best it can be. And by covering the costs of distribution, we can share this story with people from all walks of life.
HELP MAKE AN IMPACT BEYOND THE SCREEN
Your contribution will be getting a story out there that could bring comfort to a wide number of parents and young people. You will also be helping to bring empathy and understanding to an issue not widely explored in film. We believe that our film will be a moving and incisive exploration of a mother and child relationship. Given the quality of the cast we have, and the creative team, we are confident that this film has the potential to communicate an important story with depth and truthfulness.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Even if you can't contribute financially to our campaign, we would really appreciate you spreading the word through Twitter, Facebook, social media, and through emails. If there is someone who you know who may want to know about the film, then please do send them a message. We would be so grateful.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING AND SUPPORTING US!
