Hello, lovely human!

The who:

I’m Vanessa. I like to make genre and gender-bending stories about unlikely heroes and majestic misfits. I’m drawn to work that is philosophical, surreal, and funny, oftentimes told through working class and queer perspectives.

The what:

I graduated from the National Film and Television School outside of London, where I wrote two animated short films that won all sorts of awards including BOTH being BAFTA shortlisted, jury awards from SXSW, TIFF and the Austin Film Festival, voted Vimeo staff picks, and can now be found on Short of the Week. One of these animations is being developed by Nexus Studios into a TV series. I wrote a play, ‘The Call’ that won an Emerging Talent Award as part of The Scene theatre series at Chiswick Theatre in London, which then found funding with the BFI Network scheme. It continues to play at film festivals, including the London Film Festival, LSFF, and winning Best Short Film at 225 Film Club.

I wrote and directed 3 short films this year, including dance film ‘THE WEIGHT,’ which premiered at Aesthetica FF and WON Best Experimental Short at Manchester FF last week (2025)! I have been a finalist in several writing comps including the Page Awards and the Sundance Lab. I am currently nominated for a Film London Lodestar ( 2025) for emerging talent in the industry, just presented at Film London’s landmark program for original IP ‘UPSTREAM’, and am a current BAFTA Connect member.

The how:

You will often find me mid handstand, an attempt to stay sane. Previously a professional dancer, I know the importance of creative collaboration, appreciate unorthodox narrative, and harbour an enduring fascination with the physical power and limitations of the human body.

The why:

I want to fuse my movement and writing backgrounds to make new types of stories with other kind and curious humans. I want to make the invisible visible. I want to create with kindness. I want to make silly, surreal stories about “serious” issues. I want to make art as wild, nuanced, and cathartic as nature. Let’s go!

THE WEIGHT

(writer, director, co-choreographer)

A mother dances through her morning ritual, preparing breakfast for her family. As time passes, the dance gets harder and harder to perform.

-Premiered at BAFTA qualifying film festival Aesthetica in November 2024!

-WINNER: BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT at BAFTA and BIFA qualifying Manchester Film Festival, March 2025

The Call (writer)

An eviction  notice brings to light the lies and assumptions between an immigrant single  mother and her adult daughter, sending them on a magical exploration of the purpose and power they hold as a family.

-Won an Emerging Talent Award via The Scene theatre series, 2021
-Produced by Get Over It Productions, performed at Soho and Chiswick Theatres in London -British Film Institute Awarded Short Film Funding in 2022 -Developed into a TV series - The Calling, pilot available upon request -WINNER Best Short Film: 225 Film Club -London Film Festival 2023, LSFF 2024, Encounters 2023

Select Works:

Meow or Never (writer)

In a madcap musical, a catstronaut travels the galaxy looking for the meaning of life! (Currently in development with Nexus Studios.)

Director: Neeraja Raj, Producer: Diana Podra

Awards include:

  • BAFTA Film Awards 2020 – Best Student Animation shortlist

  • Oscars Qualifying

  • Austin Film Festival Jury Award Honorable Mention - 2020

  • Women in Animation Awards 2020 – Best Short Film

  • BIFA long list for Best British Short Film Award - 2020

  • MUBI player - selected short

  • Best ScriptWriter Award - Blue Planet Sci-Fi Film Fest 2020 

  • BFI Future Film Festival 2021 - Nominated for Best Film, Best Animation and Best Writer

O Black Hole! (writer)

A woman turns into a time-stopping black hole and it takes brave young Singularity to reverse the spell...

Director: Renee Zhan, Producer: Jesse Romain

Awards Include:

  • Oscars Qualifying

  • BAFTA Film Awards 2020 – Best Student Animation shortlist

  • VIMEO Staff Pick: 200K+ views

  • British Animation Awards: Winner, Best Postgraduate Film

  • Toronto International Film Festival Special Mention: “Share Her Journey” Award

  • SXSW Special Jury Award for Vision

  • Aspen Shortsfest: Winner, Best Animation

  • Annie Awards Nomination: Best Student Film

  • Poitiers Film Festival: Winner, Best Student Film

excuse me

(writer, director, co-choreographer)

Bullied by her “friend” at work, a woman excuses herself to the loo, where she is forced to dance with her demons.

Awards include:
-WINNER Best First Time Filmmaker and Best Actress at the Berlin Art Film Festival -WINNER Best Sound Design at Venezia Shorts -Continues to tour festivals internationally

NO SWAN IN SIGHT

(writer & director)

A woman gets ready for a date whilst navigating dark, cacophonous thoughts.

Thirsty

(writer & director)

Short Comedy Film - writer, director, producer

A woman and her wild friend go out on the town for an absurdist first date post-pandemic, where her suppressed sexuality and social awkwardness threaten to destroy this rare opportunity.

-Made within a 2 week period for Collaboration Film Challenge, September 2022 -Picked to be in the top 10 films to screen at Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles -Won Best Comedy Short for CFC, 2022

Projects in Development

The Dancers - A full length play about abuse in the dance world

Burn It All Down- A comedy series about witches

The Dud - A feature film based on the play/short film ‘The Call’

Mother Mother - A short magical realism drama film

Seasonal - A teen dramedy series about the 4 Seasons

Mary Quite Contrary - A YA live action dramedy series loosely based on The Secret Garden

RIP Ann! - Black comedy period feature film

Theatre Plays

YOU DO YOU

Drought-ridden Los Angeles is on fire, and Evie Adams is hell bent on experiencing her first orgasm before it all goes up in smoke.

Filmed as part of the NFTS Graduation showcase and planned to be performed at Soho Theatre, London 2020 (Cancelled due to Pandemic).

Filmed reading and Pilot script available upon request.

The Call

During a difficult visit to her single immigrant mother, Athena discovers that what she thought was age-related mental decline is in fact an inherited magical gift.

Performed at Soho Theatre, Director Hettie Macdonald , 2018 Won an Emerging Talent Award, then consequently performed at Chiswick Theatre, 2020 Backed by Over the Fence Productions and Lunar Pictures, found funding with BFI Network, 2022

It’s Enough to Make You Spit

Jessica, a Disneyland employee playing Snow White, tells the story of a disturbing event at the park that is both unreportable and will cause her redundancy .

Monologue performed by Alice Anne Sykes at NFTS TV Studio, 2018

I’m currently available for script editing, directing and writing work, please contact me below!

Contact me

We are lonesome animals.

We spend our life trying to be less lonesome.

One of our ancient methods is to tell a story

begging the listener to say

-and to feel-

‘Yes, that’s the way it is,

Or at least that’s the way I feel it.

You’re not as alone as you thought.’

-John Steinbeck