We’re excited to announce that we’ve officially begun pre-production on our upcoming short film ‘There Are Lights’. The film is written and directed by Yorkshire based filmmaker Nadia Emam. Caitlin Bramwell and Maria Caruana Galizia are producing the film. The film is being funded by the BFI NETWORK and private finance.

‘There Are Lights’ is set in Whitby, North Yorkshire. It tells the story of Menna and her father Farouq, who have recently moved from Egypt to Whitby. The two are finding it a challenge to integrate, with Menna throwing herself into the gothic identity of her new home, and her father becoming even more removed from it, and subsequently, his daughter. On Halloween night, the two finally have to overcome their differences and learn to understand one another.

Nadia Emam is an actor, poet and theatre director. She trained at Manchester School of Theatre working as a performer and drama workshop facilitator with organisations such as the Royal Exchange Theatre, Odd Arts and BBC Radio Drama. In 2019 she was awarded a placement with Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme and is now a supported artist of Sheffield Theatres where she co-founded an immediate response political theatre collective: Next Left. Her debut poetry film won the WEX Short Film Competition and was part of the BFI’s Northern Exposure Short Film Programme.

Nadia had this to say about working on the film: “As a first-time director, I’ve felt incredibly supported throughout the whole process of script development and pre-production. Nothing has felt too out of my depths because of the sheer amount of guidance and care that has been offered to me by the team.”

“From complete investment in the story and characters, to advice on the creative processes when needed, I couldn’t ask for a better team to be making this film with. It truly feels like I’m making something with a group of friends. It’s really helped me to learn a lot about the filmmaking process, and I feel more and more confident and inspired by the possibilities of a future career in film.”

As part of our on-going commitment to nurture a new generation of filmmakers in the North East, Candle & Bell are working with new film producer Caitlin Bramwell on the film. Caitlin recently graduated from Northumbria University and this is her first film since graduation. “I fell in love with the script the first time I read it - I think we all resonate with Menna in some way. Whether it’s her teenage rebellion, the love she clearly has for her father despite everything or how she’s developing and connecting to her identity.”

”Nadia has a talent for storytelling that gripped me in the first draft I read and I knew I wanted to be a part of the film in anyway possible. She’s created interesting and flawed characters that I’m glad I have a part in bringing to life. I’m so happy to be working with Nadia and Candle & Bell to produce this film.”

There Are Lights is scheduled to film in March 2021.