GATECRASHERS WRITERS L-R, TOP TO BOTTOM : Olivia Gagan, Sarah Louise Madden, Samantha O’Rourke, Rebecca Osias, Calif Chong, Zina Wegrzynski, Liv Ello, Guiled Osman, Paul Chambers, Hannah Frances Therese Jones.
GATECRASHERS: A writers lab for genre feature projects
WITH NUMBERS OF WORKING CLASS FILM AND TV WORKERS AT HISTORIC LOWS, SONA FILMS REVEALS DETAILS OF TEN FEATURE FILM PROJECTS FROM WORKING CLASS WRITERS PARTICIPATING IN THE GATECRASHERS LAB, SUPPORTED BY BFI CREATIVE CHALLENGE FUND, AWARDING NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING.
Sona Films is delighted to announce GATECRASHERS, a new lab for 10 WORKING CLASS/ LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND writers to develop a genre feature film script, supported by the British Film Institute (BFI), awarding National Lottery funding.
This unique and intimate lab makes it financially possible for ambitious projects to receive much-needed industry support at the critical early development phase. The programme will onboard 10 writers with exciting new film ideas that expand the parameters of the kinds of stories we are losing, as the industry becomes increasingly challenging for working class writers to navigate.
The lab is being delivered by script editor Caragh Davison, producer and actor Yasser Zadeh, producer Thomas Hawkins, and EP and founder of Sona Films Sophie Reynolds. A host of British working class film industry talent is providing masterclasses to the writers, including Charlotte Regan (Writer-Director, MINT, SCRAPPER), Nathan Bryon (Co-writer, RYE LANE) Eoin Doran (Co-Writer, WASTEMAN) and Samantha Beddoe (Co-founder and Producer, IT’S ALL MADE UP PRODUCTIONS) GATECRASHERS lab provides a vital lifeline for working class writers. In 2024 research by the Creative Industries Policy and Research Centre found just 8.4% of creatives in film, TV radio and photography are from working class backgrounds, the lowest rate in a decade.
The centrepiece of the programme will be two six-day residencies in Shropshire and Yorkshire, supported by writing charity Arvon. Alongside the masterclasses the course will upskill the writers and give them insight into forging their own path through the industry. The course culminates in a pitch showcase at Curzon Soho on 15th April at 10AM. This will be an opportunity to bring together funders, studios, streamers, agents, sales agents, producers, directors and showcase our writers and their projects to wider industry and connect them with the tangible next steps to getting their project made.
The 10 writers and projects selected from an amazing 500 applications:
Olivia Gagan - TESS’ PLOT - Climate Thriller
Sarah Louise Madden - THE GHOSTED OF CHRISTMAS PAST - Romantic Comedy
Samantha O’Rourke - BABY KILLER - Horror Comedy
Rebecca Osias - HOUSE PROUD - Horror
Calif Chong - SIX EUROS - Thriller
Zina Wergrzynski - SLAY, QUEEN - Horror
Liv Ello - FENBOY - Comedy
Guiled Osman - GODS & BIRDS - Action
Paul Chambers - THE BARGHEST - Horror
Hannah Frances Therese Jones - BENEATH THE SURFACE - Fantasy Romance
Yasser Zadeh, GATECRASHERS producer says: “We know the power and value of schemes like this. In this climate we are losing the most talented artists to class disparity. Without this lab, these projects may never have existed. GATECRASHERS provides crucial financial support to develop our writers and their scripts – and access to an industry hungry for compelling, fresh genre projects.”
Mia Bays, Director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, says: “Sona Films and the team delivering Gatecrashers have a wealth of experience in championing working class filmmakers and a more inclusive industry, and they’ve bought together an exciting and talented cohort of creatives for this lab. In addressing the BFI Creative Challenge Fund aim of increasing the diversity of genres in features, Gatecrashers will bring together a strong industry network with a clear strategy for producer engagement and follow-up and is well-positioned to deliver meaningful impact and industry ready outcomes.”
GATECRASHERS is delivered by SONA FILMS and supported by the BFI Creative Challenge Fund, awarding National Lottery funding.
For further information, interviews and quotes, please contact:Sona Films: www.sonafilms.com
Gatecrashers: www.sonafilms.com/gatecrashers
Contact: gatecrasherslab@gmail.com
BIOS
Caragh Davison
Caragh is a freelance producer and script editor with a strong track record in supporting new and emerging Film & TV talent. She most recently worked as a development producer at My Accomplice, and led development for BFI genre film writers lab, The Darkroom. As a script editor she is working on a number of film and TV projects in development with companies including The Bureau, Film 4, Joi Productions and BFI. She was an exec producer for the BMW Filmmaking Challenge, and has previously commissioned and EP'd a vast slate of short films that have screened at festivals including Sundance, SXSW, Iris Prize and LFF.
Caragh worked for the BFI for five years across development and production and has extensive experience running talent labs for companies including BAFTA and ScreenSkills. She sits on the Nomination Committee for BIFA, whilst also chairing the Shorts voting category. She can often be found hosting panels at film festivals.
Yasser Zadeh
Yasser Zadeh is a trans Iranian-British writer, actor, and producer known for his work in television, film, and theatre. His work often highlights working-class narratives and the trans community. Yasser has appeared in several high-profile television series, including Netflix's KAOS (2024), Sky/HBO's I Hate Suzie Too (2022) as Otis Carver, and the BBC/HBO series I May Destroy You (2020). Theater:The Confessions at the National Theatre (2023), RAT at the Royal Court Theatre (2022), and And The Rest of Me Floats (2017/2019). He wrote and produced award-winning short film SHRIMP (2025). He is also a lead producer for The Darkroom, a writing lab supported by the BFI for queer and trans writers. He is the founder and a former director of The Queer House, an artist-led talent agency and production house representing LGBTQIA+ performers and makers. The Queer House was the UK's first and only agency dedicated specifically to queer, trans, and queer performers. Under Zadeh's leadership, the company produced Queer Upstairs (2021) at the Royal Court Theatre and premiered award-winning works at the Edinburgh Fringe.The Queer House was instrumental in pushing for the adoption of the Trans Casting Statement across major UK theaters.
Thomas Hawkins
Tom is a producer with over 15 years’ experience in the film industry. In 2025 Tom was as lead producer Ashley Walters debut feature ANIMOL (F4, BFI, Sky). Since 2022, Tom has been a Producer at Joi Productions, working alongside producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor. Previously, he served as Head of Development at Wildgaze Films, for twice Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning producers Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey. Tom began his career at Daybreak Pictures, working with producers David Aukin and Hal Vogel. Credits there include Associate Producer on Justin Kurzel’s TRUE HISTORY OF KELLY GANG.
His short film credits include MANGO (2024, dir. Joan Iyiola), FORAGING (2024, dir. Matthew Jacobs Morgan), BUFFER ZONE (2021, dir. Savvas Stavrou), THE UNICORN (2016, dir. Penny Skinner), and FIRE (2012, dir. Chanya Button). These projects have screened at festivals worldwide and reflect his commitment to developing bold, distinctive new voices. Tom is also the founder of QUEERING THE SCREEN, a networking event that connects queer professionals across the screen industries, fostering community, collaboration, and visibility.
Sophie Reynolds
Sophie Reynolds is a film and television producer. She produced all five episodes of MALPRACTICE, a medical thriller for World Productions starring Niamh Algar, written by Grace Ofori-Attah and directed by Philip Barantini. MALPRACTICE was both critically acclaimed and attracted millions of viewers, making it the most popular new drama of the year for ITV1. Prior to this, she produced the second series of STATE OF THE UNION written by Nick Hornby, directed by Stephen Frears and starring Brendan Gleeson and Patricia Clarkson- who won an Emmy for her performance.
In 2016, she founded Sona Films, which has established a strong track record of championing shorts and features made with talent from low socio-economic backgrounds. Its most recent credit is SURVIVING EARTH, Thea Gajic’s debut feature, backed by Film4 and the BFI, which premiered at SXSW and will be released this spring. Sophie co-founded the UK Producers’ Roundtable to campaign for access into the film industry and is one of the British Screen Forum’s ‘future leaders”. She was previously Production and Development consultant for Film London and is currently Exec Producing for Channel4 Drama.
About Sona films:
Founded in 2016 by producer Sophie Reynolds, Sona has developed a track record of identifying and collaborating with some of the best emerging talent. Our most recent producing credit is Thea Gajić’s debut SURVIVING EARTH which was backed by Film4 and BFI and premiered at SXSW 2025. We champion marginalised voices telling universal and compelling stories. We campaign for access into the film industry and we believe in creating opportunities across the board for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
About the BFI Creative Challenge Fund
The BFI Creative Challenge Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, supports organisations to devise and deliver labs and workshops which respond to identified ‘challenges’ set to help address specific gaps across the industry. By decentralising project development, the Fund seeks to enable a wider ecosystem in which emerging UK filmmakers can develop new projects.The fund was launched in October 2023 and the first round supported 86 projects and 130 writers, directors, producers and immersive artists.
The BFI is a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image.
Our mission is:
To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive
To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals - delivered online and in venue
To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding
To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen industries
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.
The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Jay Hunt OBE.
Any other questions please contact gatecrasherslab@gmail.com and we will aim to get back to you within 48hours.