Shamim Sarif – The filmmaker of lesbian themed ‘I Can’t Think Straight’ and ‘The World Unseen’

Shamim Sarif is an award winning British writer and film director associated with British English films and novels. She is of Indian origin and writes novels and scripts. Her debut novel, The World Unseen (2001) won Pendleton May First Novel Award and a Betty Trask Award. Its screen adaption with the same title also won numerous international awards with three Best Actress awards. Her lesbian themed movies ‘I Can’t Think Straight’ (2008) and ‘The World Unseen’ (2007) earned cult status and numerous awards, and the lead roles of the lesbians were played by two actresses – Sheetal Sheth and Lisa Ray of Indian origin. Her spouse is famous woman producer Hanan Kattan, and the couple has two sons.

Both her parents were Indians who initially lived in South Africa before migrating to UK in the 1960s. The family got settled in London, where Shamim was born in year 1969. She ventured into writing, film production and direction after her marriage with Hanan Kattan. They also started a production house in 2001 which produced many movies including ‘I Can’t Think Straight’ and ‘The World Unseen’. She later directed one feature film – Despite the Falling Snow (2015) and one documentary film, The House of Tomorrow (2011).

Shamim Sarif – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. The lead heroine of her film The World Unseen won three Best Actress awards for her performance.

2. Her works are focussed on various aspects of identity including gender, race, and sexuality, and also includes personal experiences.

3. She adapts her novels to produce and directs internationally acclaimed movies.