Paradiso Films Production Limited is an award-winning, Edinburgh-based independent film company specialising in socially engaged, internationally resonant cinema. Founded by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Samir Mehanovic — who arrived in Scotland as a refugee from Bosnia in 1995, starting life homeless before completing an MA in Film — Paradiso Films is rooted in resilience, authenticity, and a passion for human rights storytelling.

Paradiso Films has a proven track record in creating powerful, personal films that give authentic voice to marginalised and oppressed communities. We are committed to allowing people to speak for themselves—without imposing an editorial lens—ensuring that their stories are told with honesty, dignity, and depth. Our work consistently reaches audiences from underrepresented and underprivileged backgrounds, building meaningful connections through empathy and truth.

 

Our films have been theatrically released across the UK, with screenings at venues including Bertha DocHouse (London), GFT (Glasgow), Filmhouse (Edinburgh), Belmont (Aberdeen), MAC (Birmingham), and HOME (Manchester). Internationally, our work has been selected for major festivals and received numerous accolades, including the IDFA Special Jury Award, Grand Prix at the Tangier Film Festival, and Best Cinematography at the LA Freedom Festival.

 

Our projects have been broadcast on BBC, Al Jazeera, VPRO, RT, and more. Most recently, the feature documentary Hijabi—developed with support from Screen Scotland—was screened on Al Jazeera World, reaching over 430 million viewers in 120 countries.

 

Our short fiction films The Way We Played (BAFTA Scotland Winner, 2005) and Mouth of Hell (BAFTA UK Nomination, 2017) have been distributed worldwide and were recently selected by Screen Scotland for their educational platform, Screening Shorts.
 

Future Plans

We currently have several films in development and are looking for partners.