Sema Basharan
Sema works as an Editor and Assistant Editor across documentary and factual television – a progression built on a sharp eye and a growing creative confidence. She is an alumna of The Grierson Trust’s In Focus: Editing programme, supported by Netflix, which provides intensive mentoring in storytelling through the edit.
Sema is an engaged storyteller who can spot that flash of gold in the rushes and archive, adding real value to a sequence. A trusted voice in narrative discussions, she isn’t afraid to share her opinion and consistently offers valuable insight. Recent credits include additional editor on the feature documentary Wham! 10 Days in China, which brings George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s historic tour of communist China to life through richly restored archive, previously unseen material and new interviews, ahead of its worldwide theatrical release. She has also assisted on a run ofNetflix true crime documentaries and was additional editor on BBC comedy travelogue The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan.
Beyond editing, Sema produces and directs award-winning short documentaries, with her debut film broadcast by BBC South West and a premiere at Sheffield Docfest. Calm, meticulous and creatively driven, she’s an invaluable asset to any edit suite.
Work by Sema
WHAM! 10 Days in China
The Branches Are Hope; The Roots Are Memory
The Signalman
Unknown Ravens
WHAM! 10 Days in China
In 1985, WHAM! made history as the first Western pop act to perform in communist China. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou were a cultural milestone – East meets West, music meets politics. Newly restored footage reveals the untold story of the iconic tour that helped launch WHAM! to global superstardom.
Directed by Mike Christie and produced by Supercollider in association with Sony Music Vision and the BBC, the documentary will see cinema release in summer 2026, followed by premiere on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
The Branches Are Hope; The Roots Are Memory
Bradford is a diverse, multi-faith city, with a history of peace activism and grassroots resistance. Its religious diversity has inspired people and movements whose faith has motivated them for works of peace building.
Through documenting the memories of faith-based activists in Bradford, this film explores the links between Bradford’s religious diversity, peace heritage, and grassroots activism; it is an audio-visual portrait of a unique aspect of Bradford’s culture.
Receiving it’s world premiere at Sheffield DocFest, it was nominated for the Best Short Film Award.
The Signalman
The only violin maker in Cornwall in the early twentieth century, and winner of numerous awards for his craftsmanship, Albert Coad is remembered by only a few – those who knew him personally, and those who treasure and play his beautiful instruments. An oral history documentary, The Signalman unearths the story of Albert, preventing him from being lost completely from local history. Shown on BBC One, as part of the ‘Inside Out’ strand.
Unknown Ravens
The story of peacemakers often goes untold, while the focus on war, conflict and politics takes the limelight. This short documentary is the story of faith and pacifism through the lens of one family in rural Oxfordshire, who refused to consider any person their enemy. With exclusive access to previously unpublished prisoner of war images, the film brings a unique perspective on the Second World War. Screened at worldwide festivals.