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Recently launched in London with the aim to tackle gender disparity within the film industry, BOOTH connects both aspiring and established female directors with brands and leading institutions so that they get the opportunity to showcase their work. Skyla van der Pols, the founder, shares with Something Curated six rising directors she believes are worth paying attention to.

 

Savanah Leaf

Before gravitating towards filmmaking, Savanah Leaf used to compete as a professional volleyball player. But in spite of a successful sporting career (represented team GB at the 2012 Olympics), she decided in 2015 to dedicate her full attention to the arts. Both a filmmaker and a photographer, she carved her own way, and has since a few years directed a mix of shorts films, visual poems and documentary episodes. Credits include ‘Subelo Cuba’, ‘The Ayes have it’ and the ‘F Word’. She has among others collaborated with Stink Films, the Mill, Motionpoems, Gilles Peterson and Havana Club.

 

Yumna Al-Arashi

Yumna Al-Arashi has been exploring both her Yemense and American upbringing through the prism of creative endeavours (writing, photography and film), and she became a needed voice that speaks up for all Arab & Muslim women dealing with issues of representation. Sexuality and politics are closely intertwined in everything she does, and her most celebrated achievements include ‘Northern Yemen’, ‘The 99 Names of God’, ‘Face’ and ‘Shedding Skin’. Supported by Asos, Nowness, the Magnum Foundation, National Geographic and The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, her work has sparked positive discussions around the globe.

 

Molly Daniel

Molly Daniel set foot into the world of filmmaking by directing video clips for her sister, the singer and musician Nilufer Yanya. Works include ‘Thanks 4 Nothing’, ‘Baby Luv’, ‘The Florist’ and ‘Small Crimes’. On the side, she successfully runs the Artists in Transit collective with the aim of helping and introducing communities in time of hardship to the arts. The first project was based in Athens, and more are about to follow.

 

Tash Tung

Tash Tung crosses the boundaries between photography, experimental films, music videos, independent films and branded content. After graduating from Chelsea College of Art, she exhibited as part of Tate Britain’s ‘How We Are Now: Photographing Britain” and her photographs have been further used for a print campaign by the Barbican. She then cut her teeth shooting clips with musicians in the likes of Gazelle Twin, Saint Etienne and Isaac Gracie. Tash Tung then began experimenting with short movies which have been previewed at the ICA and LSFF.

 

Nadira Amrani

Algerian-British producer, filmmaker and editor, Nadira is interested in visually charged music videos and documentaries that explore social issues. She is also the  founder of the POC collective (People Of Colours) and has been actively seeking to promote diversity in the film industry. She collaborated with Hadiru Mahdi (aka Brother Portrait), Denai Moore, Skin Deep, Gal Dem, BBZ, the V&A and the Tate Modern.

 

Claire Littler

Claire Littler is a freelance filmmaker and editor who has directed numerous fashion films and TV commercials for, among others, Asos, Ralph Lauren, Braun, Cosmopolitan, Dazed and I.D. In her latest collaboration with Dazed, she partnered up with albino model Jordan Charles to create a powerful piece about alternative beauty, confidence and social acceptance.

 

Words by Caroline Astaes | Selection by Skyla van der Pols
Feature image: Still from Shedding Skin, Directed by Yumna Al-Arashi

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