July 08, 2025

Neil Marshall & Liz Farahadi on short film-making, short film festival submissions, SohoLIFF and making their short film 'Keep Young and Beautiful'

1 hour 10 minutes

Joining us today is the directing great Neil Marshall (Dog Soildiers, The Decent) and the inspiring actress and producer Liz Farahadi to talk about SHORT film making, the things that can go wrong, why they are important, why planning is vital and how you always need to be ready to adapt.

AND their short film Keep Young and Beautiful.

We also talk applying for film festivals, why you might or might got get selected, producing short films, what goes into them and the difference between shorts and features for directors.

Neil burst onto the scene and punched us all in the face with the cult werewolf action-horror classic "Dog Soldiers" and then, he plunged us into true claustrophobic terror with "The Descent" a film that won critical acclaim and cemented his status as a master of modern horror. He then unleashed the post-apocalyptic action mayhem of "Doomsday" and the brutal historical epic "Centurion,". More recently, he directed the period horror "The Reckoning" and the creature feature "The Lair."

And it's not just features! He's brought his distinctive, cinematic vision to some of the biggest TV shows out there, directing two of the most epic battle episodes in "Game of Thrones" history – "Blackwater" and "The Watchers on the Wall" – which earned him an Emmy nomination. He's also helmed episodes of "Black Sails," "Constantine," "Hannibal," "Westworld," and "Lost in Space.

And also joining us today, we have an incredible talent in Liz Farahadi, who truly embodies the spirit of independent filmmaking: an accomplished actress and a dedicated producer who champions diverse voices and impactful stories. You might know her from her acting roles in compelling independent films like "Losing Grace" (where she also served as a producer) and "Wild Bones," as well as various theatre productions and commercials. She's also had roles in the well-loved British soaps, "EastEnders" and "Coronation Street," along with other dramas like "Two Thousand Acres of Sky," "Miss Marple," and "Doctor Who. She's a passionate advocate for filmmakers, recognizing the need for support, especially for those from marginalized backgrounds. This drive led her to found and direct The Soho London Independent Film Festival (SohoLIFF), a fantastic platform dedicated to creating opportunities and celebrating films with social and environmental impact. She's currently in post-production on new short films like "Losing Grace" and "Daughter," and developing features like "Xenos" and "Polly." Her latest film as an actress and producer, "Keep Young & Beautiful," delves into the darker world of beauty standards with a powerful and humorous edge.

Check out Soho London Independent Film Festival here https://soholiff.co.uk/

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PATREON

Big thank you to:

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Mark Hammett

Lee Hutchings

Marli J Monroe

Karen Newman

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CREDITS

The Filmmakers Podcast is written, edited and produced by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson

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