Photography by samhazelphotography.com
Sasha is a BAFTA nominated, and a Grierson and RTS award-winning Director/Producer, making observational documentaries for almost 20 years. She has a natural instinct for a story and a sharp eye for detail, often filming with vulnerable people in very challenging situations over a long period of time. She has an excellent track record in getting and maintaining access, both with institutions and organisations, as well as individuals. A confident and experienced self-shooter, Sasha’s camera work is, visually rich and her films have emotional depth and intimacy.
Her latest documentary, filmed in Jordan, explores the relationship between domestic violence law and the realities for the victim. Abused: Surviving Domestic Violence in Jordan goes behind the usually closed doors where this abuse takes place. Rarely have Arab women spoken so openly about their terror and vulnerability in the face of what remains a deeply patriarchal culture and society.
Sasha’s films have often tackled challenging subject matters: mothers with addiction issues, Addicted: Last Chance Mums, BBC1, high-security prisons Welcome to Belmarsh with Ross Kemp, child-protection social workers Protecting Our Children, drug wars in the UK, USA and Afghanistan Our Drugs War, and life and death at a neurosurgery ward Brain Doctors, amongst others.
Her work has also explored more light-hearted topics, such as the experience of growing up in remote parts of Scotland, My New Best Friend, BBC Four, a behind-the-scenes look inside a world-famous department store, Liberty of London, Channel 4 and a woman balancing detective work with motherhood, Married to the Job, ITV.
Alongside this work, Sasha made her own independent film, Playing the Fool, shot over 3 years in a mental health hospital, which premiered at HotDocs in Toronto in 2012.
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Sasha is brilliant to work with. A few can achieve the intensity of her relationships with her characters and then she delivers pictures and images to match.
Angus MacqueenSasha is amazing at access, gaining the trust of people from brain surgeons to new york drug dealers, and getting key moments of drama on camera. Her camerawork is really strong, and this combined with her relationships with contributors makes for great rushes with all the magic moments captured. Her work spans really accessible documentary series for C4 and ITV filmed in the UK, to hostile environment shoots in Afghanistan. Amazing person to have on board for a long-term access project. I’ve worked with her on four documentary series for C4, BBC and ITV as well as other projects.
Monica GarnseySasha Djurkovic is an experienced Producer Director who has been making observational documentaries for over 10 years with some of the best in the industry. Arriving in the UK as a refugee from Bosnia 20 years ago, she has a natural ability to connect with outsiders; people that are in complex emotional situations and often at their most vulnerable. She is good at handling fragile access and her camera skills and knowledge are first class.
Rachel Hooper