Shamsa Akhtar, LISFF 2026, Best British Feature Film

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

I’m Dr Shamsa Akhtar, founder of Core Productions 1 Ltd. My daily life is a mix of runningmy production company, supporting film projects from development through to post-production and distribution, alongside managing my other businesses. I also run a childcare nursery and a property development company, and I work closely with multiple councils to support children with disabilities and their families.

No two days are the same one day I could be reviewing scripts, the next coordinating post-production, or working within my childcare settings. I enjoy the variety, as it keeps me creative and constantly learning.

- When and how did you get into writing?

My journey into writing began at a young age. Despite being dyslexic and struggling with reading and writing when I was younger, I found confidence through creativity. I published a poem at the age of 13, which gave me the belief that I could express myself through storytelling.

Since then, I have written a number of short films and a feature film titled Sofia, which is based on my real-life experiences. While I am primarily a producer, writing has always been part of my journey, and I continue to develop ideas and stories alongside the projects I support.

I also have a strong passion for supporting filmmakers and writers. Through Core Productions, I actively fund projects that raise awareness and give opportunities to creatives to bring meaningful stories to life.

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

I don’t follow a strict writing routine, as my role is often more focused on development and production. However, I am constantly engaging with scripts, reviewing drafts, and contributing to shaping stories.

As a producer, I have to critically analyse every script and story I take on. Because of my dyslexia, I’ve developed my own way of working, I have to visualise each page of a script to fully understand it before agreeing to move forward. This process takes me longer than the conventional approach, but it allows me to connect deeply with the story and ensure it’s something I truly believe in.

What inspires me most are real-life experiences, human journeys, and stories that reflect resilience, identity, and social impact.

- How does it feel to have your work recognised?

It’s incredibly rewarding. Recognition validates the time, effort, and belief that goes into every project, especially within independent film where the journey can be challenging. For Tapped, the recognition has been particularly encouraging. The film has won multiple awards across international festivals, including Cannes World Film Festival, London Director Independent Festival, London International Screenwriting and Film Festival, Milton KeynesInternational Film Festival, The I Am Film Festival, Golden Nugget International Film Festival, Cinemafest, My Name is Climate Film Festival, Sykehouse Film and Writers Festival, London Night Film Festival, Red Movie Awards, British Urban Film Festival, Tacfest, and Expo International Toledo Action Film Festival.

We were also able to secure distribution with Buffalo 8 shortly after completing the edit,

which was a great milestone for the project.

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

The best part is bringing a story to life and seeing it resonate with people. Storytelling has the power to connect, inspire, and create change.

The most challenging part is staying authentic while shaping the story in a way that works structurally. Balancing creativity with clarity, pacing, and audience engagement can be difficult, but it’s an essential part of the process.

- 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?

Tapped was developed by writers Teoman Sayin and Elijah Baker, with my role focused on

production, development, and bringing the project forward.

The story reflects themes grounded in real-life experiences and human behaviour, which is something we were all passionate about exploring. Like many independent films, it has taken time to develop, refine, and position properly.

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

• Stay true to your voice and your experiences

• Don’t rush the process, good stories take time to develop

• Be open to feedback and collaboration

• Focus on strong, relatable characters

• Trust your own process, even if it’s different from others

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

The best thing is the exposure and the opportunity to connect with others in the industry.

Competitions can open doors and help bring attention to your work.

The most challenging part is the level of competition and uncertainty, but even being selected or recognised is a positive step forward.

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

Yes, absolutely. Platforms like LISP provide valuable exposure and give writers and filmmakers the opportunity to be recognised. It’s also a great way to connect with others in the creative industry and build your network.

Additional Background

I launched Core Productions 1 Ltd in July 2023 with a clear purpose to ensure that writers are properly recognised, respected, and protected throughout the filmmaking process. This was driven by my own experience of having a script amended without my knowledge by another production company. That experience shaped how I now work, and I am committed to making sure writers’ voices are heard, their work is acknowledged, and their scripts are not changed without transparency and agreement.

Since launching my production company ‘Core productions 1 ltd’ company, I have supported and delivered a number of projects that have gone on to distribution, including Sofia, Tapped, Swordplay Volume One, Pops, and the short film I Don’t Need the Badge.

I am currently in pre-production for Memoirs alongside Carma Films and Womanhood alongside Raspberry Films, and in post-production for the film Slava written Steve Haisman and ‘Depot’ written by the amazing Femi Wilhelm who also wrote the film ‘Swordplay Volume One’

.

Prior to this, I wrote several short films and was the full financier and Executive Producer for Social Life, based on my upbringing, and Dependent, based on my personal experience during a period of ill health while raising children, I always worried about how my partner would cope if I was to die – this was written in a way to enable men to speak up and talk about their feelings and for others to be mindful, sympathetic and understanding. Both projects received strong recognition and awards, although they were produced under a different production company.

Thank you for reading

With love always

Dr Shamsa Akhtar