Director

Sasha Nathwani

<h3>The Caviar director has overcome huge obstacles to make his first feature - which won a Golden Bear&nbsp;at the Berlin Film Festival last month. We spoke to him about the journey&nbsp;from music videos and commercials to making an acclaimed new independent movie.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>Having directed numerous music videos - most recently, the UKMVA-nominated promo for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/10/11/priya-ragu-adalam-va-sasha-nathwani/78705" target="_blank">Priya Ragu's Adalam Va!</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;and commercials, Sasha Nathwani was ready to make the leap into longform, with a story that was close to his heart. It was a long and difficult road to get there, but he has done it - and the reaction has been extraordinary.Last month, Nathwani's debut feature Last Swim opened the Berlin Film Festival's Generation 14Plus category for new filmmakers. A few days after the premiere, Last Swim won the prestigious Golden Bear for Best Film in its category, also winning the AG Kino-Golde-Cinema Vision 14Plus award.Months before its general release, Nathwani already has two awards under his belt, and is basking in rave reviews for Last Swim, which centres upon Ziba, a British-Iranian teenager as she confronts a life-changing decision on a hot August day in London.&nbsp;&nbsp;Produced by Campbell Beaton,&nbsp;Nisha Mullea and Sorcha Shepherd; Helen&nbsp;Simmons and Bert Hamelinck, the team behind Last Swim consists of numerous HoDs and other crew members who have come up through the ranks of music videos, including DoP Olan Collardy and production designer Julija Fricsone Gavriss. And finally it was Caviar, the company Nathwani joined in 2022, who ultimately provided the crucial support to get it made.A few days after the tumultuous reception the film received at Berlin we spoke to Nathwani, to find out more of the background of how Last Swim&nbsp;made it to the screen.[imgtoken data:1]Above: Last Swim director Sasha Nathwani: "I had never seen anything authentic to my own adolescence captured on film."PROMONEWS: What was the inspiration for writing the screenplay for Last Swim? Was this something you’ve been working on for a long time?SASHA NATHWANI: More than anything, I just wanted to make something that was true to my experience of growing up in London. I had never seen anything authentic to my own adolescence captured on film.I also wanted to tap into my identity, and tell the story of a British-Iranian person and his/her group of friends on a hot summer’s day. London has a unique energy when the sun shines, and we really wanted to tap into that energy with Last Swim – something that breaks with the usual convention of monochromatic films depicting life in the capital.&nbsp;In total, it took about five years from the time of the first draft&nbsp;to getting the film made. It’s a film about lost youth, an exploration of the different set of choices a young person might make in the face of an irreconcilable change of circumstances. And it’s no coincidence that it was written during the pandemic, when young people all over the world were having their seminal years snatched away.<blockquote>It took about five years from the time of the first draft&nbsp;to getting the film made.</blockquote>What were the crucial things that happened that enabled the film to be made?SN: Well, we did the rounds with the public funders over a two-year period. First, we applied for Development Funding, which we didn’t get. Campbell Beaton [the film's producer] and I went ahead, and developed it independently. We brought Helen Simmons on-board as my co-writer who later also became a producer. We later applied for Production Finance from the usual sources, and after waiting for many weeks for an answer, we were again unsuccessful. By this point we had secured a third of the budget in private equity, but the soft money we so desperately needed in order to be greenlit for production was frustratingly out of reach.While all of this was happening, I was speaking to Caviar about commercial representation. Their EP Nisha Mullea took an interest in the script and she shared it with [Caviar MDs] Sorcha Shepherd and Bert Hamelinck. They eventually took the place of the public funder, and the film was to become the first to be produced by Caviar’s London office, to supplement the amazing films they have produced in the US and Europe (Sound Of Metal, The Rider, War Pony, Rebel).How did you find your lead actor&nbsp;Deba Hekmat&nbsp;for the role of Ziba?SN: It’s funny you should ask. I met her on a music video I directed many years ago now&nbsp;for Alex Hepburn. Deba struck me then as having an interesting sensibility. She has a striking look and is very comfortable in her own skin. When we came to casting Ziba, she is someone I had in mind. However it wasn’t until her audition that I was sure she was perfect for the role. She has this unique ability to communicate a great deal with her eyes alone. The character arc for Ziba required the actress playing her to really shield the outside world from her internal conflict – this demanded a certain kind of performer, someone with emotional instincts, and this is a talent that Deba has in abundance.<blockquote>[Public funding bodies] were disinterested in our experience in promos and advertising.</blockquote>When did you shoot the film and how long was the shoot?SN: We filmed across 22 days of principal photography in May and June of last year (2023). It was undoubtedly the most challenging shoot I’ve ever done. The pressure of achieving a daily page count of 4-6 pages was relentless. It’s a similar kind of pressure to a music video day, but on a larger scale.The story takes place over a 24-hour period on a hot day in August (A-Level Results day) so we were at the mercy of the weather, and luckily for us we had 18 days of sun across that shoot window which was a real touch!Have you directed any narrative drama before this?SN: A few shorts.&nbsp;However most of my experience until now has been in short form: music videos and commercials mainly. This was one of the issues we experienced when trying to get public funding. We were competing with director/producer teams with much less experience, but something that they had that we didn’t was a Sundance short. The commissioners were completely disinterested in our experience in promos and advertising.[imgtoken data:2]You have considerable experience as a music video director. How did that prepare you for making your first feature?SN: Along with many of my HoDs, we all cut our teeth on music videos. That’s particularly true of Olan Collardy (DP), Julija Friscone-Gavriss (PD), Campbell Beaton (Producer), Eve Coles and Gaby Winwood (Hair &amp; M/U), Nathalie Caroline-Wilkins (Costume Designer) and Joseph Bicknell (Colourist). Caviar too has a rich history of groundbreaking music videos. Collectively, we’ve worked on hundreds of promos, and this experience has been hugely beneficial.There’s a required resourcefulness that comes with music video filmmaking that is useful for narrative work. But more than anything, it’s the ability to think on your feet and weigh up the time available to get the coverage you so badly need to cut the scene. However, it needs to be executed in a way that’s interesting and original. I often had to make pivotal editorial decisions on set, knowing fully well that I was never going to have the time to achieve lots of conventional coverage. That kind of on-your-feet decision-making is synonymous with music videos.I think of the generation of filmmakers who made up the Criterion collection DVD box set of music videos: Jonathan Glazer, Mark Romanek, Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry. More recently the Daniels and Aiofe McArdle are more contemporary examples of directors who have successfully crossed over, but there simply aren’t as many as in previous years. It does feel particularly challenging to make that leap right now.<blockquote>Being in a 1000-seater auditorium with that large an audience is a very vulnerable place to be, but also incredibly exciting.</blockquote>By the end of shooting, how confident were you that you had the film you wanted to make?SN: Oh man, this is a humdinger of a question. I read recently that filmmaking is an editor’s medium, and having been through this process with my long-time editor Stephen Dunne, I feel that is a very true statement. It was really in the edit that we discovered what kind of story we were trying to tell, and some of my favourite and most beautiful scenes/shots ended up on the cutting room floor. Kill your darlings, they say!You’ve now had some great reviews and won a prize at the Berlin Film Festival. Silly question perhaps, but how are you feeling right now?SN: I’m still coming to terms with the last few weeks. The experience has really galvanized and reinforced my love of filmmaking. And to have gone on the journey with so many great people has been amazing.&nbsp; But I’d be lying if I said it was easy, but rather it was undoubtedly the hardest thing we’ve ever attempted.[imgtoken data:3]Above: At the Last Swim premiere in Berlin: Nathwani (front row, third right) with Cambell Beaton (front row, far left) with cast and crew. Photo credit: George On A BoatA key distinction between short form and longform filmmaking is that when you make a film rather than a commercial or a music video, you get to experience it with a room full of people, and that’s a really special feeling. The night of the premiere we were screening the film in a 1000 seater auditorium (the amazing Haus De Kulturen Der Welt). Being in a room with that large an audience is a very vulnerable place to be, but it’s also incredibly exciting. Hearing those moments when the audience laughs, shrieks or cries is exhilarating.&nbsp;Having come off the premiere and the Crystal Bear, along with my amazing producers and HoDs, we’re all buzzing. And if there are any music video directors out there reading this who need a little push to open up Final Draft and write that film that’s been percolating in their heads, the fact that you’re reading this right now is a sign that it’s possible. So what ya waiting for? Get a hurry-on, and write that script!• Sasha Nathwani is based at Caviar for commercials and music videos - watch his work <a href="https://caviar.tv/london/directors/music/sasha-nathwani/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Caviar

Sasha Nathwani on directing 'Last Swim': "I wanted to make something true to my experience of growing up in London." 

Sasha Nathwani launches a new phase of his music video directing career with this scintillating showcase for Tamil-Swiss singer-songwriter Priya Ragu, which combines elements of South Asian cinema and Kill Bill in a eye-catching style the director dubs 'Tamiltino'.Having celebrated&nbsp;South Asian fashion and culture in her previous videos, the video for&nbsp;Adalam Va! - which&nbsp;translates loosely as Let’s Dance -&nbsp;raises the bar in terms of visual elegance, choreography and pure physicality,&nbsp;with Priya mastering an eye-catching array of intense martial arts moves and energizing dance routines, created by the choreographer Supple Nam.The eye-popping action and performance elements also dovetail wonderfully within the striking splendour of&nbsp;Strawberry Hill House &amp; Garden, a place&nbsp;that is also clearly influenced by subcontinent architecture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]Adalam Va! is a most vibrant cocktail of electro-pop and soul-stirring South Indian sonics, with Priya’s voice rising like a beacon of positivity. “Adalam Va! is about hope in the darkest of days," she says. "It’s about the fresh energy that emerges out of these times. We wanted to express that feeling through this song and to get everyone on the dancefloor!”And Nathawani's well constructed visual captures the essence of the track with admirable wit and timeless cinematic glamour.“I’ve wanted to work with Priya for a while now," says the director. "This Adalam Va! video was the perfect opportunity. Working collaboratively with Priya and Japhna Gold, we crafted a narrative inspired by classic Tamil films from the 70s and 80s starring Indian film legend Rajinikanth, and fused this with the cinematic flair of Tarantino, coining this combination of styles: TAMILTINO.[imgtoken data:2]"The video tells the story of a Kill Bill-inspired character played by Priya, that liberates a gang of youths enslaved by an evil villain, freeing them through the encouraging chorus line Adalam Va which means Come and Dance."Priya really threw herself into the physical challenge of this video, working closely with choreographer and fight supervisor Supple Nam, she learnt how to use a silambam stick, a South Asian martial arts weapon, alongside numerous dance sequences, inspired by South Asian choreography.”

United Kingdom

Manoela Chiabai

Eleri Evans

Joshua Noon

Smera Kumar

David Wright

Isusko Garcia

Gary Kent

Joshua Dadson

Felix Wildey

Riaz Ahmed

Ciaran Beale

Jake Hunte

Natalie Wilkins

Daniela Alves

Shamara Roper

Tasnim Nahar

Supple Nam

Blaine Pearson

TenThree

Jonny Tully

CHEAT

Hands 

Kirstin Cruickshank

Warner Records

Priya Ragu 'Adalam Va!' by Sasha Nathwani

Priya Ragu - Adalam Va! (Official Video)

Sashinski shoots for the Moon in the choreography-fired video for Jonas Blue and Julian Perretta's summer banger Perfect Melody.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Naomi Weijand

Moses Ward

Caterina Danzico

Regina Bakeeva

Akti Magdalini

Nikki Porter

Emelia Gayner

Scarlett Anderson

FAMILIA

James Hackett

Ryan Monteith

Hunter Daly

India Bradshaw

Tom Wynborne

Tommy McMahon

Rupert Hornstein

Sandra Pennington

Ash Halliburton

Jonny Vieco

Sharon Robinson

Sasha Chude

Dasha Taivas

Lucy Berry

Final Cut

Cabbage Film Factory

Hannah Lonergan

Jonas Blue, Julian Perretta 'Perfect Melody' by Sashinski

Jonas-Blue,-Julian-Perretta-'Perfect-Melody'-by-Sashinski

Sashinksi collaborates with Sam Fischer on an elaborate one-take performance, in the gripping&nbsp;promo for Hopeless Romantic.&nbsp;Sam takes us on a journey through a series of spaces, which&nbsp;reflect the bittersweet themes of the beautifully melodic track.From a misty forest to an undulating dancefloor and a rose-covered studio concept, each setup delivers a stirring emotional connection, whilst the contrasting colour palette feels poignantly romantic.&nbsp;

James Fuller

Toby Walsham

Maddy Temple

Anya Defries

Dan Precious

Gavin Macarthur

Jack Powell

Anthony Neal

Melissa Denham

Tenthree Editing

George Neave

Coffee & TV

Mórádi Szabolcs

Bajkov Delov Valentin

OB Management

Kat Cattaneo

RCA Records

4th Floor Creative

Sam Fischer 'Hopeless Romantic' by Sashinksi 

Sam-Fisher-'Hopeless-Romantic'-by-Sashinski

Sashinksi directs a mesmerising promo for Izzy Bizu's Tough Pill.&nbsp;Set under the beautiful glass-panelled ceiling of the Palm Court in the Waldorf Hilton, London, the video focuses on&nbsp;authentic performances and dynamic movement, with stunning cinematography from DoP Thomas English.&nbsp;The energy of the track is matched by spinning camera moves, off-kilter angles and busy composition, creating an opulent yet down-to-earth aesthetic.&nbsp;

Rosie Woods

Ryan Morgan

Thomas English

Ben Oliver

Angus Mitchell

Ryan Delahunty

Anne Holme Preston

Cynthia Lawrence-John

Lauraine Bailey

Robyn Rowan

Joseph Bicknell

Company 3

Rachel Goodger

Emma Garrett

Elena Argiros

Sony Music

Greg McLaren

Athena Paginton

Singer songwriter

Contemporary R&B

Soul

Izzy Bizu 'Tough Pill' by Sashinski 

Izzy-Bizu-'Tough-Pill-'-by-Sashinski-

Sashinski directs a lovely-looking video for Ola&nbsp;Svensson - aka Brother Leo - played out on a deserted beach in which the supporting cast represent the thoughts and characters featured in his reflections in Hallelujah.After more colourful and art directed&nbsp;excursions in his previous videos, the pared-back black and white look by DoP Daniel Morgan, and the focus upon personality and performance, as he strides purposefully along gleaming sands, feels like a breakthrough for&nbsp;Ola/Leo.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Daniel Morgan

Oliver Munks

Joaquin Blunt

Charlotte Moss

Yuho Kamo

Laura Cotgrove

Robbie Canale

Claudia Burns

Katie Moore

Columbia

Cinelab Film and Digital

Brother Leo 'Hallelujah' by Sashinski

Brother-Leo-'Hallelujah'-by-Sashinski

Swedish singer-songwriter Brother Leo is trapped in memories of past love in Barcelona, directed by&nbsp;Sashinski.Featuring a series of vignettes with Leo and his love interest getting intimate in picturesque locations, the transience of every scene represents the speed at which time flies by, leaving little time for reflection until it's over. The main focus is on the small moments between the pair - a glance, a stolen smile, uncontrollable laughter.The performances highlight the very best moments of being in love, but as Leo starts to come to terms with the end, the visuals start to degrade, becoming more and more fantastical and less realistic. This world is now inaccessible to him, aside from in his head, so the rose-tinted glasses have painted the past as something beautiful and untouchable.&nbsp;It's emotional and poignant, and a great match to the wistful and powerful track.&nbsp;

David Ceballos

Marc Miró

Alvaro Rodriguez

Mario Lerma

Laura Negro

Laura Marouf

Miguel Valles

Amanda Jenkins

Borja Marting

Jazmin Print

Jakub Franasowicz

Javier Alonso

Alvaro Carlo

Brother Leo 'Barcelona' by Sashinski

Brother-Leo-'Barcelona'-by-Sashinski

In the spectacular video for Sigala, a Bedouin father follows his star through the desert to be reunited with his daughter.Sashinski - aka Sasha Natwani - makes great use of some breathtaking locations in Jordan for the video, revealed with excellent drone photography, and features a performance by vocalist Becky Hill in one of the world's great archeological sites, the stunning red caves of Petra.&nbsp;

Charlotte Jones

Joel Honeywell

Denny Cooper

UNIT

Semley Wilkinson

Rob Ellis

Sigala ft. Becky Hill 'Wish You Well' by Sashinski

Sigala, Becky Hill - Wish You Well (Official Video)

With Kofi Stone&#39;s track Rodney Place homing in upon a painful childhood memory when his parents split up,&nbsp;the video directed by Sashinski (aka Sasha Nathwani) gets to the heart of the matter.It cuts between the artist&#39;s performance in stark black and white, and dramatic impressions from his&nbsp;past, presented in a warm colourful glow that gives the story added poignancy.

Casey Levie

Mariya Evtimova

Ten Three

Coffee

Hip Hop

Kofi Stone 'Rodney Place' by Sashinski

Kofi-Stone-'Rodney-Place'-by-Sashinski

Sashinski directs Jasmine Thompson in&nbsp;an intimate dance performance that takes place within a spectacular space, for her returning single Loyal.The Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent provides a stunning and suitably moody backdrop for a song with a subtle jazzy feel, and choreography by Darecy Wallace that explores its themes, from loyalty to freedom.

Harriet Towler

Darren Ladbury 

Tom Nowell

Kendal Mae Boyle

Paul Donovan

Melissa Trindade

Josh Brooks

James Weller

Nicola Sheppard

Wes Teshome

Atlantic Records

Singer-songwriter

Jasmine Thompson 'Loyal' by Sashinski

It&#39;s a big day out for a gang of friends in Sashinski&#39;s video for Jonas Blue shot on location in Lisbon.With featured artists Jack &amp; Jack making their presence felt with an accompanying performance, the flow of the narrative works to an impressive climax - this attractive bunch walk the city and finally end up at a massive outdoor concert by Jonas Blue himself.&nbsp;

Shabana Mansouri

Hannah Bilverstone

Marcus Autelli

Virginemi

Jonas Blue ft. Jack & Jack 'Rise' by Sashinski

Jonas-Blue-Ft.-Jack-&-Jack-'Rise'-by-Sashinski

Sashinski interprets themes of loneliness, solitude, love, loss and freedom through a sequence of black and white portraiture for Alex Hepburn&rsquo;s I Believe.Shooting performances of Alex in the studio, as well as in large empty spaces intercut with vignettes featuring streetcast and filmed in-and-around Broadway Market characters.

Daniel Gibling

Matt North

David Hamilton

Thembi Mkandla

Jess Summer

Chris Roebuck

David Scantamburlo

Warner Music France

Alex Hepburn 'I Believe' by Sashinski

Alex-Hepburn-'I-Believe'-by-Sashinski

New girl on the block Tayá makes a big impression with Sashinski&#39;s slinky, sensual and sexy video for Skin...&nbsp;

Callan Green

Dale Slater

Kiera Liberati

Rio Sreedharan

Maria Asadi

Paul Moth

Oisín O'Driscoll

The Mill

Lucy Rogers

Tayá ft Lotto Boyzz 'Skin' by Sashinski

Taya-'Skin'-by-Sashinski

The&nbsp;Vamps&nbsp;are back with their single All Night,&nbsp;featuring&nbsp;Matoma, paired with a highly&nbsp;engaging POV video from director Craig Moore.&nbsp;The guys clearly know how to have a good time, taking us right along with us on a typical day out for them. Starting in their tour bus, the boys take the viewer on a journey through the city on a high-speed bike ride to the basketball court, until night time when they play to hundreds of fans.&nbsp;The highlight of the video perhaps, sees an alternating POV format following the individual band members&#39; perspectives - swapping&nbsp;each time&nbsp;the&nbsp;guys high five.

Craig Moore

Ada Almeida

The Vamps 'All Night' by Craig Moore

Sasha Nathwani

Director

1 interview featuring Sasha Nathwani

21 videos featuring Sasha Nathwani

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