Arpita Ashok
Producer, writer, advocate
About Me
Having spent six years as a Finance lawyer in the City, with a secondary pro bono practice in gender equality, I decided to turn my hand to storytelling - one of our most powerful tools to achieve change.
​
Graduated from National Film and Television School in February 2024 (MA Producing Film & TV).
Short Films
TROUBLE
Producer
Dir. Sarah Blok
2024 / Drama / 21 min
Brothers Luca and Sammy have planned a birthday barbecue for their father, Tyrell, who is in the aftermath of his recent divorce. When their mother Clio (Tyrell’s ex-wife) shows up uninvited, relationships twist and strain, as each member tries to figure out how to shape their lives outside of the unit they thought would last forever.
JUST A WEEKEND
Producer
Dir. Aella Jordan-Edge
2023 / Psychological drama / 12 min
Shot on 35mm
Officially selected at Norwich, Manchester and Poppy Jasper International film festivals
Saf and Magda are living harmoniously in their new London flat when Saf’s overbearing Mum comes to visit for the first time - just for the weekend. Battle commences over Saf, who desperately tries to cling onto her adulthood. By the end, Saf’s psychological war wounds become grotesquely physical and she must choose between her mother or her partner.
IT ALL COMES DOWN
Producer
Dir. Megan Earls
2024 / Drama / 6 min
2D traditional animation
A grandmother, mother and granddaughter sit around a table. The granddaughter starts asking questions. A memory from the past resurfaces. It all comes down, through the generations.
An animated short based on an inherited family memory. It questions the effect that the conflict known as ‘The Troubles’ has on the people of Northern Ireland. What has been left in the past is very clearly still present.
REMEMBER THAT TIME
Development Producer
Dir. Sophia Seymour
2024 / Documentary / 23 min
A group of strangers takes part in a game of grief that forever alters their reality.
LATCH
Producer
Dir. Ruby Abbiss
2023 / Drama / 6 min
In the middle of the night in an isolated postnatal ward, new mum Thea wonders if she will be able to bond with her newborn. An unflinching look at the pressures of motherhood and postnatal depression.
Link to NFTS alumni profile:
My CV
Relevant Experience
January 2022 - February 2024
National Film and Television School -Â MA Producing
Two years of intensive training, during which I made five short films (across fiction, animation and documentary), three of which were showcased at the BFI in February 2024.
My first year film JUST A WEEKEND is currently doing the festival circuit and has been officially selected at Norwich, Manchester and Poppy Jasper International film festivals, so far.
September 2017 - December 2021
Allen & Overy LLP
Banking Associate
Having completed training contract at the magic circle firm, qualified as an Associate in the Banking & Finance team, specialising in Restructuring and Insolvency.
Top-tier experience in large-scale, cross-border restructurings that made the front page of the FT. Negotiated and implemented deals across a wide range of industries including gaming, travel, energy and retail.
September 2015Â - December 2021
Allen & Overy LLP
Pro Bono Lawyer
Alongside extremely busy commercial work, very unusually built a secondary specialism in gender equality law, focussing on prevention of sexual violence - article available here.
​
Became the 'go-to' associate for this type of work and was selected to chair International Women's Day panel in 2021 on 'The disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on women' - article available here.