The United Film Podcast

Shir Ariya - Screenwriting, Directing, and Short Filmmaking

86 views · 6d ago · 58:22

Guest: Shir Ariya

Today Shir Ariya is on the podcast. Shir is a Thai writer and director. We met at London Film School where she was enrolled in the MA screenwriting program. She is drawn to character-driven stories that combine heightened realism with a darkly comedic horror twist. Her directing credits include ⁠The Pleasure of Being Held (2026)⁠, ⁠The Sorrows of Young Charlotte (2026)⁠, and ⁠Crab No. 7 (2025)⁠.

Nikhil Ranade - Business in India, the move to cinematography and the UK, and feature filmmaking

70 views · 1w ago · 58:06

Guest: Nikhil Ranade

Today Director of Photography Nikhil Ranade is on the United Film Podcast. Nikhil and I have worked together on 3 feature films in collaboration with Champ Dog Films and ITN Distributions over the last year, A Tailor Made Romance, Dinosaur Hunt and Dracula in Space.

Patrick Ireland - Balance between network Producing / Directing and independent filmmaking

114 views · 2w ago · 46:20

Guest: Patrick Ireland

Today Patrick Ireland is on the podcast. Patrick is currently a director and producer at ITV. He has been with the company since 2019. We talk about his experiences traveling the world making videos. We also discuss several of his previous short films such as Ill Fares the Land.

Samuel Ajayi - Founder of Film Finder, a film recommendation app + Product Management at BFI

147 views · 1mo ago · 1:06:53

Guest: Samuel Ajayi

Today Samuel Ajayi is on the podcast. Samuel is the founder of Film Finder. A British born film recommendation app that helps you uncover your next favorite film. We discuss his initial inspiration for the app and his development of it. In addition, we speak about the broader spectrum of online film and arts recommendation culture, and his current position as Product Manager at BFI.

Will Stead - Studying film at Florida State University, and the transition from shorts to features

122 views · 1mo ago · 1:05:17

Guest: Will Stead

Today writer and director Will Stead is on. We discuss Will’s life between England and the US where he studied filmmaking at Florida State University. We also discuss his grad film from FSU, and some of his most recent directorial efforts including Fire Twister, Wizard of Death: Tinman’s Rise and 4 sequential Popeye horror films - that’s right! He is a franchise film director!

Tom Chambers - Directing After Film School, Vertical Dramas, and Staying Inspired

34 views · 1mo ago · 1:24:14

Guest: Tom Chambers

Tom Chambers is a writer and director and fellow alumni of the London Film School. Over the last year Tom has directed 13 vertical dramas, a craze that has swept the world. We discuss the nature of this new format of filmmaking and where it might lead. We also discuss some of the films he made while at LFS including his grad film The Big Pygmy and what is next.

Mickey Angelov - The making of feature film DALI, Look Aside Films, and next film The Commitment

140 views · 1mo ago · 49:33

Guest: Mickey Angelov

Today Mickey Angelov is on the podcast. We discuss growing up in Sofia, Bulgaria, the making of his first feature film, DALI, founding his production company, Look Aside Films, and his next feature film called The Commitment.

Rafael Kapelinski - Making feature film The Budapest Diaries, film education at London Film School

168 views · 1mo ago · 1:16:53

Guest: Rafael Kapelinski

Today, I am very pleased to have film director and a former professor of mine from the London Film School, Rafael Kapelinski, on the podcast. We discuss his latest feature film, The Budapest Diaries, his experiences growing up in Poland, his perspective on the current state of independent film industry, and progress on his next film, A Lucky Guy.

Tom Branton on Earls Court, Urban Development & Building Cultural Ecosystems

119 views · 5mo ago · 43:13

Tom Branton joins us to discuss the redevelopment of Earls Court, the role of culture within urban development, and how creativity can become a powerful engine for economic growth and community building. We talk about Tom’s background working within the public sector, starting out as a political assistant and developing an understanding of how large-scale projects are built through partnerships, collaboration, and long-term vision.

Topics: The origins of Earls Court and the vision behind its redevelopment

Kim Nüesch — From Switzerland to LA, Sister duo & Breaking into Film

13K views · 6mo ago · 49:16

Guest: Kim Nüesch

Filmmaker Kim Nüesch joins us to discuss her journey into filmmaking, from starting at a very young age alongside her sister to building a career between Switzerland and the United States. We talk about how her passion for filmmaking began early on, influenced by her parents and shaped through years of creating films together with her sister.

Topics: Introducing Kim & early filmmaking with her sister · Discovering filmmaking at a young age & early influences · Electric Love: concept, story & technical challenges · Moon Girls: early filmmaking experiences · Marriage Unplugged: origins & development · London Film School & comedy genre

Dan Lowenstein — Vertical Dramas, The Audition House & From Dance to Filmmaking

7.2K views · 6mo ago · 41:07

Guest: Dan Lowenstein

Director Dan Lowenstein joins us to discuss his journey into filmmaking and how an unexpected career shift led him from dance into directing. We talk about his early background as a dancer, how an injury pushed him to reconsider his path, and how that transition opened the door to filmmaking through dance films. Dan reflects on the moment narrative storytelling started to take a bigger role in his work, influenced in part by his wife’s work as a casting director.

Topics: Introducing Dan · From dance to filmmaking: injury, transition & early projects · Moving into narrative · Becoming Everything: grief, themes & working with charities · Why focus on verticals: rhythm, experience & opportunities · Working with actors in vertical formats

Daniela Stephan — Beirut, Film Labs & Developing a First Feature

9.8K views · 7mo ago · 1:09:08

Guest: Daniela Stephan

Filmmaker Daniela Stephan joins us to discuss her journey into filmmaking, from growing up in Beirut to studying at the London Film School, and how her personal experiences have shaped her voice as a storyteller. We explore her early relationship with cinema, from watching Louis de Funès as a child to discovering more hard-hitting films at a young age, and how these experiences sparked her interest in storytelling.

Topics: Introducing Daniela & how they met · Why London Film School & leaving Lebanon · Discovering filmmaking & early influences · Growing up in Beirut & its influence on her work · The Sun Sets on Beirut: story & inspiration · Narrative vs documentary & working with actors

Zijian Cai — Shooting on Film, Hong Kong experience & upcoming projects

11K views · 7mo ago · 1:31:58

Guest: Zijian Cai

Zijiian joins us to discuss his journey into filmmaking and his experience navigating film school, working on set, and shooting internationally. We talk about his early influences, from Tarantino to Hong Kong cinema, and how his interest in filmmaking started through school projects and an inspiring teacher who pushed him to pursue it further.

Ruari Chambers on Directing, Vertical Dramas & the path from film school to first feature

9.5K views · 7mo ago · 1:14:49

Director Ruari Chambers joins us to discuss his journey into filmmaking and the transition from film school into the industry. We talk about his early fascination with cinema, growing up obsessed with films like Star Wars and Spider-Man, discovering storytelling through theatre, and developing a passion for writing from a young age.

Topics: Introducing Ruari Chambers · Working with actors & thoughts on the future of vertical dramas

Zhanbo Yu — Cinematography, Vertical Dramas & Finding your path in Film

9.1K views · 7mo ago · 1:27:56

Guest: Zhanbo Yu

Cinematographer Zhanbo Yu joins us to discuss his journey into filmmaking. We explore his early education in film studies at King’s College London, a highly theory-driven program that helped sharpen his critical eye and understanding of cinema. Zhanbo reflects on the films that shaped him, including Trainspotting, and the elements of storytelling, characters, and visual language that made him fall in love with movies.

Topics: Introducing Zhanbo Yu & how they through London Film School