Sema Basharan
Sema has worked as an Assistant Editor across drama and factual. She is an alumnai of The Grierson Trust’s renowned In Focus: Editing programme. Supported by Netflix, this competitive training scheme provides extensive mentoring in storytelling through the edit.
Sema is an engaged storyteller who can identify that flash of gold in the rushes and archive, adding value to a sequence. A crucial sounding board in narrative discussions, she is unafraid to voice her opinion and offers valuable insights. Sema has assisted on a variety of Netflix true crime documentaries, and most recently was an additional editor on BBC comedy travelogue ‘The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan’.
As well as editing, Sema has also produced and directed short documentaries – all of which have won festival awards. Her debut film was acquired and broadcast by BBC South West on ‘Inside Out’ (2020). Sema had a film premiere at Sheffield Docfest 2021, and in 2022 she was invited back as part of an exclusive filmmaking initiative run by Asif Kapadia.
An invaluable asset, Sema has a calm, easy going attitude matched with a meticulous eye for detail.
More work by Sema
The Branches Are Hope; The Roots Are Memory
The Signalman
Unknown Ravens
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.