What type of stories do we tell?

At Aria Starlight Pictures, we love all genres of film, and reserve the right to produce any story which captures our imagination. We do have leanings, however. We are inspired by stories which lift the soul, celebrate connection and compassion, and explore how we can be a better species.

We also like to create emotional touchstone moments for our audiences, so both our comedies and dramas always seek ways to stir the impulse to laugh, cry and cheer.

Our vision/mission statement. Who we are, and our ‘Why’.

Our mission is to celebrate and practice the ancient art of storytelling through images, words and music, to lift the soul and challenge the mind. We aim to do this through creative collaboration across the arts and disciplines of filmmaking, drawing the best from those who work with us. We do this by establishing a supportive working environment which respects and celebrates everyone’s creative input.

Why? Simply because telling stories is the best way to help us to understand ourselves as humans, and to understand ourselves is to give the best of ourselves.

Bio: Simon Elvin, co-founder and Director of Aria Starlight Pictures.

I have been a creative storyteller my whole life. From child actor and musician to published and recorded singer-songwriter, to playwright, to screenwriter, filmmaker and film score composer.

Alongside this creative life, I held down day jobs to support my family. This, parallel path, in leadership and professional development, led me to become experienced in the psychology of individual and group behaviour. Whilst I didn’t realise it at the time, this gave me an enormous step up in my creative writing. What motivates us, builds us, damages us…all of this is gold for writers of fiction.

In 2024 I completed an MA in Writing for Script and Screen with Falmouth University, passing with Distinction. While still on the MA programme, I cast and filmed a no-budget comedy feature: The Websters, a 93 minute, almost vertical learning curve in directing, editing and scoring. This was not part of the MA, but the result of my realisation that practical experience in making a feature-length film would both inform my writing and show my perseverance to get a project over the line. We completed the film and I learned a lot in the process!

I took my MA as a great foundation for my own continued professional development, and I continued writing, continued reading and continued building friendships and collaborations with others who share my passion for story.

My participation in Talent Campus – an eight-day programme at Ealing Studios, run by the London Screenwriters Festival – gave me the push I needed to become master of my own destiny. Rather than go cap-in-hand to production companies to try and get my writing filmed, I decided to become the production company. I knew I could say ‘yes’ to myself.

So here we are. The inception of Aria Starlight Pictures.

Bio: Rachel Adams, co-founder and Director of Aria Starlight Pictures.