Our Past Student Journeys
We caught up with some Film alumni and asked what they liked about their degree and what they are doing now.
BA FILM STUDIES
“All the films I have made beyond university are the direct result of things I learnt during my undergraduate courses as well as the bonds I formed with fellow students who shared my filmmaking ambitions. All of the films I have made after graduating have consisted of crews made up almost entirely of former QM students, and these projects have likewise received invaluable support/guidance from my former lecturers at QMUL. Stephen Noorshargh, CEO G22 Studios, graduated 2019
“Screenwriting with Athena Mandis, because my dream is to write for Film and TV. I loved the creative freedom this course enabled whilst structuring my wild story ideas. It was the perfect introduction to screenwriting and will always be the foundation of my writing journey. Ariela Sabah, Project manager for a production company, graduated in 2023
I chose Film Studies primarily for its balanced blend of film theory and technical aspects, and it certainly lived up to expectations. On one hand, it provided a solid foundational background and context to the world of film, enriching my understanding of its history, aesthetics, and cultural significance. On the other hand, the technical and practical elements offered insight into the behind-the-scenes processes of filmmaking. Armin Zare, Film Producer/director, graduated 2015
I feel like these modules provided me with a well-rounded set of skills and knowledge that I was able to implement in many ways in my career. Suzan Al Sharif, Production Manager/Coordinator in Advertising, graduated 2022
I loved Mapping Contemporary Cinema and Contemporary Cinema, as those modules were very helpful in centring film as a business. For example, clearly communicating box office results, understanding a film’s marketing and its target audience - all of which is helpful as general professional skills. I also loved many of the horror modules and What is Cinema as I’m a bit of a nerd who just liked learning and discussing these new concepts. Anonymous, Sky UK, graduated 2022
What I loved about all of these modules was that it made me think of film in very different ways. We looked at things like ethics in film, film as not just a piece of media / entertainment but as history, memory, as artwork and something tangible like negatives. In visual essay we got to watch the most interesting films which was awesome + being taught by Anat Pick and Sophie Meyer was the biggest academic gift. They're both brilliant. Samiira Garane, Multidisciplinary artist, graduated 2014
I found several modules during my undergraduate studies that I particularly enjoyed for various reasons. One of my favourites was the 'What is Cinema' module because understanding the roots of cinema and studying the works of pioneering filmmakers gave me a deeper appreciation for the art form. Elana Valeri, Film Producer, graduated 2019
My favourite modules were directing fiction and scriptwriting. I particularly enjoyed the practical-based, hands-on approach of these modules, as they provided a glimpse into real-world experiences. Directing fiction, in particular, granted our group full creative freedom, while also emphasising the importance of administrative tasks like scheduling, which are just as crucial as the filming process itself. Armeen Marsheni, Content creator – Birmingham City Council, graduated 2023
I loved film curation, film and ethics, women's cinema, creative production and Latin American cinema. I think those are the ones that still stand out to me. I'm also very glad I could choose Surrealism as my module outside of film. All of those greatly challenged my critical thinking and they just brought a bigger understanding to film as an art, as a medium, as a social instrument and as a storytelling device. Getting to understand cinema like that also informed character-building exercises to a larger degree, as I could 'see' layers of humanity I wasn't necessarily aware of, at first. Isidora Contreras, Associate Project Manager/Associate Producer for live events in the entertainment industry, graduated 2021
MA FILM
I graduated from the MA Documentary by Practice at Queen Mary University in 2021, and looking back, one of the most rewarding aspects of the course was the chance to build confidence in my own voice and ideas. Soufyane Moussaoui, Director, graduated 2023
I really enjoyed my time studying at Queen Mary on the MA Documentary Practice course—it was a creatively rich and supportive environment that helped me grow both technically and artistically. The experience played a key role in shaping my career; I now teach documentary film and post-production, work as a freelance editor, and continue to develop my own documentary projects. Alexandra Markovic, graduated 2020
I've always been politically minded, and my main goal in joining the course was to learn how to use film as a form of activism. I also found a lot of value in modules I hadn’t expected to enjoy as much - like Film Philosophy. The transition into the industry after graduating wasn’t easy. The reality of breaking into the world of unscripted - especially without industry connections or lots of savings is challenging at times. Today I work as a post producer at a post-production house in London, managing the post process (grade, online, audio work) for factual TV and short films while I also continue to work on my passion projects on the side. The journey hasn’t always been smooth, but the course gave me a strong foundation and the confidence to keep going. Julia Konarska, Post Producer, graduated 2020
I began the MA program with little to no experience, but throughout the course, I’ve grown tremendously and learned so much, thanks to the incredible support I received along the way. I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank Athena for everything. She’s been an incredible teacher, mentor, and friend, and I can’t tell you how much that has meant to me. — I wouldn’t be where I am today without this support. Thank you! Sigrid Sortland, Content Producer and communications advisor at Fatland AS, graduated 2024
Queen Mary granted me to entirely be myself as a director. I was able to express myself freely through the lens of the camera. During my studies, I experimented across various film genres, which helped me establish my own distinctive style of filmmaking. It's fantastic how the university staff was always supportive of my creative freedom and encouraged me to go above and beyond the basics. Vesta Skar, graduated 2024
I am on the Documentary Pathway, but during the programme I was able to take modules in fiction filmmaking and as a result I developed a strong interest in fiction. I really appreciated the flexibility of the programme at Queen Mary, which allowed me to explore that interest alongside my documentary work. One of the most rewarding aspects was collaborating with professional actors on several film projects, as well as working with a composer from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. These experiences gave the filmmaking process a more professional feel and significantly raised the quality of our work. Coming from a philosophy background, the course gave me the confidence and foundation I needed to pursue a career in film. Cos Zekeria, graduated 2025