Another Success Story: Somayeh

In creative industries, talent is only one part of the equation. The other, often less visible, but just as important is support. The right conversation, the right introduction, or the right space can really help the trajectory of a creative career. For Somayeh, that support has played a meaningful role in how her work has been seen and shared.

Iranian-born and based in London, Somayeh is a freelance director and editor working across documentary and commercial storytelling. After studying Media Arts at Royal Holloway University of London and completing an MA in Documentary, she has worked with global brands including Nike, Facebook, Pepsi, and Lush.

Alongside her commercial work, her storytelling is deeply personal. Her Ridley Scott–produced short film, Skin of Water (پوست آب) explores the complexity of grief and the emotional weight that comes with loss. The film follows a father mourning the accidental death of his child, a tragedy he quietly blames himself for after a moment of distraction. As he withholds the truth from his wife, he becomes consumed by guilt, reflecting how grief is rarely simple, but instead layered with regret, memory, and silence.

The film has since received international recognition, including a nomination for Best UK Short at the BAFTA/BIFA-qualifying Raindance Film Festival 2024.

But behind that recognition is something equally important: access.

As one of the longest-standing members of The Kusp community, Somayeh has actively engaged in masterclasses and sessions designed to create meaningful industry connections.

Through an introduction facilitated by The Kusp, she connected with WePresent and secured a featured interview to spotlight, Skin of Water, creating space for her to share not just the film, but the story behind it. Her work has also been featured on Somesuch and 1.4 through continued support from the community.

This is where the power of support is evermore clear.

The Kusp is built on the idea that opportunities don’t just appear, they are created through connection. By bringing creatives into the same spaces, facilitating introductions, and prioritising intentional engagement, it provides the kind of support that allows talent to move forward.

For creatives like Somayeh, that support doesn’t replace the work, it amplifies it.

It ensures that stories are not only created, but seen. That voices are not only developed, but heard. And that creatives are not navigating the industry alone, but as part of a community invested in their growth.

Words by Ivy Atem (Community Specialist Intern)