Having directed a run of successful short films, including a Stormzy project for Wireless Festival, Thea Gajic has joined the Greatcoat Films roster.

Gajic was born and raised in South London, originally studying drama and working as an actor before directing her first short film Run – which was awarded the New Talent Award at BFI Future Film Fest. As well as writing films, Gajic often incorporates her own spoken word pieces into work. 

Themes of parenthood, age, trauma, and an ambition to smash stereotypes around young people run throughout the director’s work. Gajic draws on her on-screen experience to present stories that celebrate the beauty and relatability of everyday life. She describes her background in acting as a pivotal part of her approach, giving her an innate understanding of the time and patience actors need to make their best work. As a result, reality and believability are hard-wired into Gajic’s films. 

Having enjoyed success in the world of short film, the director is now working on a debut feature film - called Surviving Earth, and selected as one of 12 projects in the 2019/20 iFeatures development programme, run by Creative England.

"I've admired Thea's work for some time now, in particular her ability to find poignancy in the everyday,” says Greatcoat founder Simon Oxley. “She has an artful command over her craft which has resulted in some truly striking short films. We can't wait to be a part of what's next for her."

• Watch Thea Gajic's work at the Greatcoat Films website here