Louisa Birkin is a production designer based in the UK. Louisa worked for the nationally acclaimed Giffords Circus for 10 years as Head of the Art Department before moving to Vancouver in 2019 where she used her unique background and artistic vision to become a sought-after production designer in the independent film scene. Recent credits include the award-winning features Riceboy Sleeps, Seagrass and Inedia.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in filmmaking? What inspired you to pursue a career in the film industry?
I am a production designer based in Bristol with experience in a multitude of creative industries including circus, events, theatre, fashion and of course film. I loved watching films from an early age and was drawn to study film production at Manchester Metropolitan University. I learnt about all aspects of filmmaking and had a natural affinity towards set design and costume. Despite beginning some early film work post-university I soon became more interested in the heavily stylised and creative world of set design for fashion.
I spent a couple of years in London assisting set designers, before an intriguing job posting led me to an internship at Giffords Circus, painting the sets and making props for the highly artistic and now very successful theatrical circus. I fell in love with their ethos and soon made the move out of London to work for them. I spent nearly ten years there, becoming Head of the Art Department and working very closely with the owner and creative director Nell Gifford. This experience has been invaluable and I believe really shaped the way I work and think about design.
Since emigrating to Canada in 2019, I transferred my skills back to the film industry and soon became involved in the independent film scene in Vancouver. I worked in varying roles in the art department before landing my first feature film credit as production designer on Riceboy Sleeps. This has lead to a series of other feature films, where I continued to learn and grow as a designer. I am now looking forward to seeing where this may take me next as an emerging designer recently returned to the UK.
What does being part of Berlinale Talents mean to you? Is there something about the city that resonates with your creative process?
I feel incredibly honoured and proud to be selected to attend the Berlinale Talents. It is recognition for my hard work and determination to build a career in this difficult industry and spurs my ambition going forward. Berlin is a city of incredibly creative energy and I am excited to meet other filmmakers in this setting. Having recently moved back to the UK after 6 years in Vancouver it also seems to be the perfect timing and opportunity to extend and build on my UK and European networks.
How do you balance expressing your unique voice while creating work that resonates with audiences around the world?
As a Production Designer I express my unique voice by drawing my references from a wide range of art, photography, film, architecture etc. However my work is grounded in realism, I always strive to make my worlds believable for the setting of the film and therefore I think that allows it to resonate with audiences.
This year’s theme is 'Listen Courageously – Cinematic Narratives in Times of Dissonance.' How does the theme connect to your work and the stories you want to tell
This year’s theme is of great significance in our current world and one that I hope opens up many interesting conversations and discussions. Storytelling is a great tool for sharing and learning about other cultures, opinions and histories from around the world. I try to choose projects that share unusual voices and I hope my creative collaborations can connect to this theme.