Sarah-Kate O'Connor, LISFF 2026, Short Screenplay Finalist

-Can you please tell us about you and your daily life?

A defining feature of my life is that I have rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease so no day is the same. I’m very lucky that it’s well managed at the moment with medication but this means that my ability and energy levels can vary quite a lot.

A typical day for me at the moment is working in my corporate job, coming home, doing chores or life admin while I still have adrenaline from work. I then do something creative which can range from writing, to going on a nature walk and being very intentional with noticing my surroundings and letting my imagination work.

-When and how did you get into writing?

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing in some form creatively. At school I had the same English teacher all the way up and he was very encouraging. That period was probably when I realised that it could be something I pursue more seriously.

As a teenager I was part of an after school drama group and during that I got the option to write some scenes of plays we were preforming and they were very well received. I got some very small local youth awards for it but it was formative as that was when something clicked in my brain and I realised I wanted to pursue writing in a different format, for stage or screen.

I went to university and did my BA in English Literature and History which I loved. I was planning on applying to film schools for a postgraduate degree but didn’t know how to write a screenplay or where to even start with that format so I joined two screenwriting courses in Dublin run by Barry McEvoy at Flying Turtle Productions. That gave me enough confidence to submit an application and I got into the London Film School for their MA in Screenwriting.

Candyfloss the short screenplay I submitted to LISA, was a concept I’ve held onto from one of our first assignments of my MA and I’m adapting it into a feature length script.

My relationship with writing seems to be something lifelong and full of exploration, mistakes and fulfilment past, present and future, no matter how big or small the project, I’m always learning something new about the world or myself, usually both.

-How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine? And what inspires you to write?

The one piece of advice that was drilled into my cohort at the London Film School was that you need to write everyday. I wholeheartedly disagree as I’ve found life rarely bends so graciously to definitive plans. So, I’ve updated the advice for myself and anyone else that needs some adaptability. You need to do something creative everyday. I think that’s this is much more achievable and often more useful in whichever artistic discipline you’re pursuing overall.

The daily creative outlets could be painting, arranging flowers, reading poetry, building Lego, intentionally and thoughtfully listening to music, nature walks, dancing with your dog, taking photos from unusual perspectives, the list is endless. I often find that particularly when I’m ’stuck’ in writing something, when I have a problem to resolve in a scene or I don’t know how to get one character from A to B emotionally etc., if I do something completely different while still being in a creative headspace my subconscious seems to figure it out and I’m able to approach it with clearer eyes.

-How does it feel to have your work recognised?

It’s always lovely to have your work recognised. I find it helpful writing for deadlines if there’s something specific I’m working on so submitting to competitions or film festivals is a great exercise to keep me focused on a project. I often submit a project when it’s still a ‘work in progress’ to me so it’s wonderful for Candyfloss to be a finalist  and gives me personally a bit of momentum in the slower creative days.

I love the collaboration that’s involved in seeing your produced work as a writer in this field. When your work is produced for stage or screen so many other people have to be involved to make it happen and each adds a new layer to what was on the page which is really special.

-What's the best and most challenging thing about writing a Screenplay?

The best thing is probably the process when it’s flowing and everything fits together. That makes me feel energetic and inspired and is what I’m looking for in every project.

The blank page. I think the hardest part of anything really is just starting. It doesn’t matter how you start. I often put gibberish or doodles down on a page and then it’s less daunting, I’ve already started.

I’d say another thing I find difficult is when I get ‘stuck’ and can’t figure out how to resolve something or improve something. I touched on this earlier but then I tend to focus on something else creative and my subconscious works on it then in the background without any pressure.

Then again, That can also be the best thing about writing though because when it clicks, it’s fantastic.

-How did you develop the idea for your LISFF/LISP-selected work? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

I’ve been working on Candyfloss in some form or another since 2019. I love this story and seems to connect with a lot of people. The story behind it is it was my first assignment at film school.

The task was to go to Covent Garden, a hub of activity and find a character, then develop a story about that character. I noticed one of the vendors, a young guy with a lot of bravado and confidence passing time when there were no customers. The way the vendors interacted with each other and their banter, obviously very familiar with each other struck me as a world in itself. That was the starting point for my character Chris and then the story I developed around that.

-Can you please give us a few tips about writing?

My tips for writing anything is to just start even if it’s messy, messy is way better than not starting at all. Do something creative everyday, find passions outside of writing and always live your life. Being present and just living your life is always the best education and inspiration for anything creative.

-What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions?

The best thing about competitions for me is the deadline. It gives me something to work toward and can give me focus. The downside would be not always meeting that deadline.

-Lastly, do you recommend the writers/filmmakers submit to LISP/LISFF?

Yes of course, if you’re thinking about it then why not? Even if you don’t win anything or place who cares, you have a story you’ve completed and should be proud of yourself for not only starting but also finishing something.