Halida Abbaro

Screenwriter, playwright and journalist//London and Berlin

beauwair@gmx.net
My Favourites: Remington Steele, Ally McBeal, The Apartment
My Work: I made my first film on a whim as part of the 48-hour filmmaking movement, in which you conceive,
write, cast, direct, edit and screen a short film within 2 days. I then attended a unique film school in Berlin that
is run and financed solely by its students who set their own syllabus and teach each other using donated
equipment. I studied editing, directing, and writing. I have since written a screenplay and stage play and have
another 3 projects in the pipeline. I also work as a journalist.
My Festival Aim: As well as having fun, learning loads, becoming more confident and meeting tons and tons of
lovely, interesting people (and getting rid of all my business cards) it would be great if I could generate interest
in my romantic screwball comedy feature screenplay.
My Advice: No time to write? Leave the dishes; stop tidying up! You can get a cleaner when you sell your script

__________________________________________________________________________________

Karen Absalom
Fashion/Costume Designer/Teacher turned
Scriptwriter/Actress//Currently based in the Midlands
newday1433@aol.com // mobile 07811435695
My Favourites: The Talented Mr Ripley., The Others, T.V.series The Inbetweeners.
My Work: Once upon a time there was a girl who after taking a Degree in Fashion and a PGCE became a
designer of clothes. This attribute made her a handy person to know for those wanting costumes and props.
Props led to prompting, prompting to," Oh My God, is this really the script? " and so the diversification of her
career as a designer unfolded AND MUTATED INTO SCRIPTWRITING. So far, so good, so LSF.
My Festival Aim: I hope to use the festival to expand my knowledge of the film industry and get an insight into
the way that scriptwriters can access and successfully approach the movers and shakers within it. At the same
time I will be convivially soaking up the atmosphere and deriving inspiration and motivation from a group of
people who I anticipate to be highly creative, fun and looking to forge links for possible future creative
collaborations.
My Advice: Don't worry about it just get it written.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Adam Aiken
Writer / Filmmaker//London, UK
adam.aiken@mac.com
My Favourites: Spring Breakers, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Donnie Darko

__________________________________________________________________________________

London Screenwriters Festival Talent Directory 2014

Page 1 of 2

Amy Amani
Writer, and more recently Producer//Oxford
amyca19@gmail.com //@amyca19
My Favourites: Arrested Development, Firefly, Fargo (the series)
My Work: I'm an American living in Oxford with a Theater degree from Northwestern University. I studied
under Hal Croasmun at ScreenwritingU, worked for Arnon Milchan at Regency Productions, and as the SM for
the Groundlings in LA. I started writing out of necessity when I became a single mom 10+ years ago (and could
no longer go to rehearsals in the evenings). I've had a pilot and a feature optioned. I have two other TV
projects that I'm aggressively shopping and one of them landed me a manager.
My Festival Aim: This year I want to spend less time in classrooms and more time networking & getting to
know people. I still plan on pitching, but I'm less concerned about it than I was last year. So I'm embracing my
fear and networking my substantial butt off!
My Advice: Do not, under any circumstances, listen to the nay-sayers.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Amanda Armstrong
Writer//UK
Amandalouise_@hotmail.com
My Favourites: Limitless, Winters Tale, Damages
My Festival Aim: Learning, Sharing, Pitching
My Advice: Tell your story.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Paul Arrowsmith
I am a screenwriter//Leeds, UK
just4paulok@yahoo.co.uk
My Favourites: Shane, El Cid, Ice Gold in Alex
My Work: Since graduating from The Northern Film School I have written numerous shorts and five feature
length screenplays and a TV drama seriers. The TV drama series and three of my screenplays have at one time
or another been optioned. Currently I have an option agreement in place for a screenplay titled 'Leonardo: The
Divine Proposition,' a tale of Leonardo da Vinci during the time he painted 'The Last Supper.' I also have an
animation project that another company are looking to option.
My Festival Aim: To hear some great speakers, relax and make friends with some new writers and pitch to
some execs.

My Advice: Learn the art of rewriting.

London Screenwriters Festival Talent Directory 2014

Page 2 of 2