Rising star Helly Shah has been shining so brightly that she has captivated admirers around the world, including super fan Aml Mahmoud from Egypt. Eastern Eye caught up with Aml to find out more.
What first connected you to Helly?
When I saw her for the first time in Swaragini I admired her character and excellent performance. I found in front of me such an amazing and unrestrained girl. She entered my heart from the first moment I saw her. She touched my heart because I saw myself in the character of Swara, a smart girl who wanted justice.
Tell us what made you become a super fan?
I became a super fan as I would wait eagerly to know for any latest information about Helly on social media and YouTube. If there’s a voting for Helly I tell everyone to vote for her, and I keep voting day and night. I post all her photos on my social media acount and try to avoid problems that may arise among fans.
Tell us about something super you have done for Helly?
It may not be something super I have done for Helly, but I try as much as I can to support her in different ways. I started to write novels about her and many people like them. Helly is the heroine of my novels. I also don’t allow anyone to say a word against her. I ask people to keep voting for her and sometimes make designs for Helly, besides posting her latest pictures.
What has been your most memorable moment?
When she read my message on her birthday and uttered my name, I was flying high.
What is the thing you most love about Helly Shah?
I love everything about her. I like her humble nature and kind-heartedness. I like how she loves and supports her friends, her positivity and achievements. She also taught me that it doesn’t matter how many times I fall, but what really matters is to stand up and try again, and to never look back. She is my source of inspiration.
What is your favourite work Helly has done?
I like all her work, but Swaragini was the first work of hers I saw and she was completely brilliant in it. So it holds a special place in my heart.
Which quality in Helly do you most relate to?
I think her positive nature and persistence are the two qualities that I relate to most.
Why do you love being a super fan?
The main reason is to support Helly at all times, in every way. I love to make everyone aware of the miracle, that is Helly Shah.
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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