Experiencing Interruptions?

Sew

A seamstress recalls how she moved from the Philippines to the UK in the 1980’s as a mail-order bride, only to wind up running her own mail-order bride agency.

A documentary funded by The Talkies Commission and The Other Brother Film Fund.

  • Xenia Glen
    Director and Producer
    Porcelain
  • Daniel Bayle
    Co-Director and Editor
    I Only Have Eyes for You, Porcelain
  • Lorena Pages
    Director of Photography
    Ned & Me, Winter Coat, I My Hero, Melodie Saviour, Amani, Personality
  • Sarah Laita
    1st AD
    Guns Akimbo, The Hippopotamus
  • Lily Baldwin
    Assistant Producer
  • Becca Liversidge
    Production Designer
    Bloody Funny
  • Ana Krkljus
    Gaffer
    Supernova, The Birth of Valerie Venus, No Love Hotel
  • Nunette Lonoy
    Contributor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:3:5
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography

Xenia works at Misfits Entertainment across development and production. In 2020 Xenia made her directorial debut with 'Sew', a documentary about a mail-order bride. 'Sew' won the Talkies Commission and the Other Brother Fund. In 2018 Xenia produced 'Porcelain', an experimental short that explores skin lightening. 'Porcelain' won the Last Word Film Fund and was featured at the Roundhouse Festival. Before this Xenia worked at Shooting People on film commissions for Puma’s Films4Peace and Channel 4’s Random Acts. During this time Xenia founded New Shoots, Shooting People’s mentorship programme and fund.

More recently Xenia has been selected for BFI Network x BAFTA Crew, the Widening the Lens scheme by Encounters Film Festival, the John Brabourne Award and Ex-Animo Fund. Her upcoming film 'Backbone' was selected for the BBC's New Creative's scheme and will be released in 2021. Xenia is also currently participating in BFI NETWORK's New Voices talent development scheme.

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Director Statement

As a Filipino-British filmmaker my work is often informed by my experiences as a second generation immigrant. This is especially apparent in ‘Sew’ which is a portrait of my mother Nunette Lonoy. ’Sew’ is a documentary about how she was a mail-order bride in the 1980’s. I was very fortunate to create the film alongside Daniel Bayle, my co-director and editor, who provided an objective take on her story which is so close to my heart.