Georgia Scott

Bio

Georgia is an experienced producer, director and editor. Her first documentary, set in Kenya, explored the threats facing a unique Swahili community on Lamu Island on the border of Somalia. She went on to set up GroundTruth Productions with her sister Sophia in 2012, producing films across Africa, Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East. Their first feature documentary film, In the Shadow of War, had its world premiere in 2014 at the Sheffield Doc Fest, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Award. The film had its international premiere at IDFA 2014 where it was nominated for the first Appearance Award as well as the Oxfam Global Justice Award. In the Shadow of War has since had over 10 festival screenings and launched an outreach campaign called The Generation Peace Project.

Reflection

Sophia and I have both spent a number of years making films with people and communities affected by conflict. We are particularly passionate about documenting how young generations, still forming opinions, hopes and dreams for their future, are affected by growing up in areas of conflict. Spending most of 2015 filming in Lebanon, we split our time between Beirut and Akkar (northern Lebanon). We were nervous being up north as it is an entire red zone and we were heavily advised by the UK embassy not to travel there. We ended up spending most of our time in Akkar on the borders of Syria. Sophia and I have now formed lifelong friendships with the Syrians and Lebanese we met there. The Syrian families we filmed welcomed us with open hearts and allowed us into their lives. Their passion and hope for a better future inspired and compelled us to make a film about the human cost of the Syrian war.