afshan and director Gitika Buttoo through Polari Productions were awarded BFI funding to create a short film called Before I Do. The film is currently touring film festivals.

Before I Do Logline: On the morning of her wedding day, Mona, a British-Indian woman, questions her rushed marriage and reflects on a period of self-discovery from her past.

Core Project Details:

Written by afshan d’souza-lodhi (@afshandl)

Directed by Gitika Buttoo (@gitikabuttoo)

Produced by Luke Oliveira-Davies (@lewkdavies) & John Askew (@iamjohnaskew)

A Polari (@polaricreative) & Out of the Common (@out_ofthecommon) Production.

Supported by @BFINETWORK with #NationalLottery funding

Photos by @stills.by.dan

Cast:

Nisha Emich (@nishaemich) as Mona

Shobna Gulati (@shobnagulati) as Aunty Jyoti

Dylan Morris (@dylan.morris) as Sam

Ayesha Dharker as Simran

Crew:

Cinematographer – Samira Oberberg (@samiraoberberg)

Production Designer – Ciara O’Rourke (@ciara_lils_designs)

Editor & DIT – Lisa Rustage (@lisa_rustage_film)

Casting Director – Glenn Gaunt (@glenn_gaunt)

Costume Designer – Mary Jean Walsh (@maryjeanwalsh)

1st AD – Jourdain Rose (@jourdain_rose)

2nd AD – Will Steele (@w.j.steele)

1st AC – Hannah Richardson

2nd AC – Adam Farquharson

Gaffer – Theo Kirkpatrick (@theo_kirkpatrick)

Spark – Luke Hubbard (@lukehubbard_lighting)

Sound Recordist – Waqar Shah (@waqar_wsonsound)

Assistant Sound – Felix Waverley-Hudson (@waverleyhudsonsound)

Art Department Assistant – Kai Walsh 

Costume Assistant – Christine Walsh (@chrislispics)

Costume Trainee – Liv Maybury (@livmaybury)

Hair & Make-up Artist – Michelle Hardwick (@mishellius)

Hair & Make-up Assistant – Abi Turner

Script Supervisor – Daniel Joseph (@dan.does.film)

Script Editor – Kate O’Hara

Stills Photographer – Dan Ollerhead (@stills.by.dan)

Production Assistant – Eris Peach

GFX and Titles – Ciara O’Rourke (@ciara_lils_designs)

Composer – Tim Thomas (@blueprintstudiosuk)

Musician – Funkin Matt (@funkinmatt)

Post Producer – Niamh Livingstone (@niamhhmain)

Sound Mix – Saul Rivers

Grade – Emma Johnson

Post Production by CODA (@coda_post_production)

For BFI NETWORK:

Benjamin Taylor (@iambentaylor)

Alice Cabañas (@alice.cabanas)

Niamh Coogan

Supporting Artists:

Christine Walsh (@chrislispics)

Tasha Ekanoye

Sara Carpentieri (@sara_carpentieri)

Begonia Villalba

Cerian Owens

afshan d’souza-lodhi (@afshandl)

Nina McCafferty

Justina Aina

Funke Alafiatayo (@funkstar13)

Suraj Mitra (@moveslikemitra)

Millie Newsome

Sharon Wilson (@6744sharon)

Jay Wise-Martin (@jwisemartin)

Annabel Ohene (@annabelohene)

Special Thanks:

Maria Kayum (@mariakayum_)

Isobel Khan (@isobel.khan)

Behind Closed Doors (@bcdmcr)

Dakota Hotel (@dakotahotel_mcr)

Colony CoWork (@colonycowork)

Jamie Halliday (@jamie_vlvt)

Jay McMahon (@jay_mcmahon)

Eleonora Mignoli (@leo_is_writing)

Jaina Patel (@asian_vibes_bradford)