Sophia Scott

Bio

Sophia is an experienced producer, director and cinematographer, and has worked for organizations including the BBC and Channel 4. She has also worked extensively as a camerawoman across Africa and Asia on projects for the UN, PBS, CBC, The New York Times and Human Rights Watch.

Her 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 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 has launched an outreach campaign called The Generation Peace Project.

Reflection

My sister Georgia and I have spent a number of years working together to make 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. Georgia 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.