Summary
Shamim Sarif (born 24 September 1969) is a British novelist, screenwriter, and film director of South Asian and South African heritage. Sarif is best known for her work in writing and directing films with themes that often explore issues of identity and cultural diversity.
Shamim Sarif | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 September 1969 London, England, United Kingdom |
| Occupation(s) | Novelist, film director, screenwriter |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | https://www.shamimsarif.com/ |
Early life and education edit
Sarif was born in London to Indian parents who had emigrated from South Africa in the early 1960s to escape apartheid.[1][2] She studied English literature at Royal Holloway, University of London and later completed a Master's degree in English at Boston University.[1]
Career edit
Sarif's work has received critical acclaim for its portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships and its exploration of the complexities of love and identity. She is known for her contributions to both literature and film, especially within the context of LGBTQ+ storytelling.
Sarif's debut novel, The World Unseen (2008), won a Betty Trask Award and the Pendleton May First Novel Award. The novel explores issues of race, gender and sexuality and was heavily inspired by the stories of Sarif's grandmother and her Indian and South African heritage.[3]
Sarif has adapted and directed the films of three of her novels including The World Unseen (2001), which was selected for TIFF, I Can't Think Straight (2008), and Despite the Falling Snow (2016).
Her 2011 film The House of Tomorrow is a documentary about the 2010 TEDx Holy Land Conference, which brought together Arab and Israeli women to discuss issues of mutual interest in technology, entertainment, and design.[4]
Her latest books, The Athena Protocol (2019) and The Shadow Mission (The Athena Protocol #2) (2020), represent a departure from her more familiar themes of romance and LGBTQ+ relationships, as it falls into the action-adventure and espionage genre.
Personal life edit
Identifying as having Muslim roots, Sarif is openly lesbian, and she has mentioned that her work on I Can't Think Straight is semi-autobiographical in nature.[2][5]
On 23 September 2015, she celebrated her marriage to producer Hanan Kattan in London, marking nearly two decades of being together.[6]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The World Unseen | Yes | Yes | Feature films Based on Sarif's novel |
| 2008 | I Can't Think Straight | Yes | Yes | |
| 2011 | The House of Tomorrow | Yes | Yes | Documentary film |
| 2016 | Despite the Falling Snow | Yes | Yes | Feature film Also based on Sarif's novel |
| 2020 | Murdoch Mysteries | Yes | No | TV series Episode "Rigid Silence" |
| 2021 | A Woman on Fire | Yes | No | TV film |
| Diggstown | Yes | No | TV series Episode "Christian Spry" | |
| 2022 | SkyMed | Yes | No | TV series Directed 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Polarized | Yes | Yes | Feature film Also producer |
Bibliography edit
- The World Unseen (2008)
- Despite the Falling Snow (2004)
- I Can't Think Straight (2008)
- The Athena Control (2019)
- The Shadow Mission (The Athena Protocol #2) (2020)
See also edit
- List of Indian women film directors
- List of Indian women screenwriters
- List of female film and television directors
- List of lesbian filmmakers
- List of LGBT-related films directed by women
References edit
- ^ a b "Just another British, Indian, Muslim, Arab, Christian lesbian romantic comedy". Evening Standard. 12 April 2012.
- ^ a b Rachael Scott, "Having a gay old time: Novelist turned film-maker Shamim Sarif has two films, both based on her books, coming out tomorrow. She tells Rachael Scott how this one-two punch came about." The Guardian, 2 April 2009.
- ^ Coleman, Bianca (13 February 2009). "Novel start leads to the reel world: ENT". Cape Times. ProQuest 430701497.
- ^ Billy Cox, "'House of Tomorrow' infused with excitement and optimism" Archived 8 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 16 April 2012.
- ^ Hoggard, Liz (April 2009). "She is an Arab Christian, her lover a Muslim. They challenged every prejudice and almost tore their wealthy London families apart. Then they made a film of their love story". Evening Standard. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
- ^ Shamim Sarif (23 September 2015). "We just got married!". Facebook.
Further reading edit
- Hackwill, Robert (11 April 2016). "Shamim Sarif brings her novel "Despite the Falling Snow" to the screen". euronews. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- Producers Lab Toronto unveils 2015 line-up
- Shamim Sarif's Top 10 Film To Book Adaptations
- Exclusive: Go Behind the Scenes of 'Despite The Falling Snow' in new Featurette
External links edit
- Shamim Sarif at IMDb
- Official website