A Glasgow filmmaker has hailed growing up in the city as the muse for her critically acclaimed work.

From the high rises of Dennistoun in the East End to attending the Oscar-qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival, Simone Smith has joined the likes of Bill Forsyth (Gregory's Two Girls) and Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin) in putting Scottish cinema on the world map.

Over the last few years, the young mum has filled her boots with accolades like the BAFTA New Talent Award and jury special mention award at the Glasgow Short Film Festival as her dark and thrilling short films like Red (2012), Slap (2018) and The Mobius Trip (2023) have impressively gripped global audiences.

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Glasgow Times:

Speaking to the Glasgow Times, the homegrown talent said: “The inspirations for my films have always come from growing up in the city.

“They have a sort of gritty, raw, post-industrial feel to them which is all very Glasgow.

“Most of my films have been entirely shot in the city too. SLAP was completely shot on Scotland Street, THE MOBIUS TRIP was half in Glasgow, half in Edinburgh, and most of my other shorts were shot around the city.

“The sort of beautiful dysfunction of my working-class Glasgow family and their obsession for the film have also been big inspirations.

“My sister and I always loved watching every film, probably too many scary films at a young age, and I remember going to my dad’s and just seeing his stash of VHS’s.

“Between my mum, stepdad and dad, I really just grew up in an environment with a strong love for film.”

Glasgow Times:

From being a chambermaid and VJ to a factory worker, Simone worked random jobs until she found her feet.

Though she labelled the idea of being a director and film creative as a ‘far out concept’, she has self-taught herself to reach the top.

She said: “My career so far feels sort of surreal but interesting.

“I never went to film school, I just worked on projects in my own time, with my own money.

“Even after winning the Bafta, which was an amazing high, I wasn’t awarded any money and I was still sort of on my own with it all.

“It wasn’t until I started entering Slap into festivals that I got an agent. Until then, I wore all the hats.

"Being a filmmaker just feels like I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. 

"I'm just trying to create work and share stories that feel honest and an expression of myself.

"Becoming a mum (a few years ago) has also been the perfect balance alongside my filmmaking. 

"It's given me what I've always needed, but never knew I needed. It’s given me some peace deep down after always being so driven in my career.”

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

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So, what’s next for this rising star?

Simone is currently working on two feature films, It's Too Late You Can't Save Me and Until She Bleeds. 

Though a release date has not been revealed, the Glasgow Times can confirm that the films will mostly be set and shot in Glasgow, with some scenes in London.

To find out more about Simone's work, you can find her website HERE