“I LOVE my profession and feel blessed to be an actor, but have always believed in having a healthy work-life balance. Life is a precious gift and gives us so many opportunities, so I try to make full use of them when I can. Here is a rundown of the things I like to do when there is time and ones that give me great joy.”
Travelling: Luckily, what I did not know is that being an actor means I would be getting to travel a lot and explore new destinations, which is something that I enjoy a lot. Either way, if I am not travelling for work, I try to travel with my friends for fun, and I want to see as much of the world as possible.
Painting: Whenever I have spare time, I love to spend it on drawing or creating a piece of art using paints. Earlier, whenever I could, I would buy art materials to experiment and recently shifted to digital painting, which is also pretty exciting. Like acting, art offers up endless creative possibilities and is something that helps me relax.
Reading: Whenever I have free time, I like to pick up a good book that I’ve wanted to read or one that my friends or family have recommended, so we can discuss it later. Great literature opens up brand new worlds and really lets you use your imagination. The most beautiful thing about books is that they are timeless and connect with people in different ways.
Eating: I love trying out food at new restaurants. As I am a big foodie, my best friend and I have a tradition of choosing some new place every week to dine at and try out some new cuisine.
Bicycle rides: Anyone who has ever ridden a bicycle will know how much fun it is. Perhaps not so often in Karachi, but I definitely do like hopping on a bike when abroad. Whenever I would feel slightly bored, I would pick up my bicycle and go travelling all over a city, even if I am visiting it for the first time.
Volunteering: I believe everyone should give back in some way and it is the most fulfilling thing you can do in your spare time. I love volunteering with (the animal charity) ACF and find it the most wholesome way to spend one’s time. Hanging out with the animals at the shelter and helping out is the best way to spend my time.
Acting: For an actor the craft never leaves you, so yes, sometimes when I watch Netflix I try to act out scenes of my favourite characters. The actor in me kicks in at the most unexpected times and that’s how I love spending my time. I believe that learning should never stop.
Scrapbook: I am a very nostalgic person, so I love to collect memories and one way is to maintain a scrapbook. I have multiple diaries with various cutouts from magazines and newspapers because I love spending time with my ideas and thoughts. I am documenting visuals for my future artworks.
Walking my own dogs: Going on walks with my brother and both my dogs also has a vibe of its own. I love going on long walks and talking about random things as my dogs enjoy their surrounding. Animals are honestly the best.
Friends and family: Spending time with my friends and family is a must. I have a small circle of very close friends and love having our hangouts where we can just listen to good music, and talk about random things. In fact, my friends are what makes a lot of things in my life more exciting.
Sabeena Syed is a Pakistan based actress, who starred in projects, including the films Parwaaz Hai Junoon and the TV serials Yaqeen Ka Safar, Mujhay Jeenay Do and Badbakht. Her upcoming projects include the film Babylicious.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
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