Photo by Blerta Kambo
01 — Feature
● IN POST-PRODUCTION
A comedy-horror-satire inspired by the true story of the “haunted painting” that terrorised a Hastings charity shop — and the internet — in 2023. Directed by Maria Pawlikowska, co-written with Tom Woffenden.
Variety Press ReleaseMy next feature project is a musical adaptation of A LITTLE DEATH with EMU FILMS.
2020 · 11 MIN · COMEDY / SATIRE
directed and written by
Eternal life is getting harder for the undead Tina, who subsists on the transfer of energies accessed during the male orgasm. When her partner-in-crime gives in to suicidal ennui, Tina is left alone to protect her species from extinction.
Nuuksio Films · Jakupi Brothers · The Seelig Group
DP Oliver Ford · English / Italian / Spanish
In The Palace · FrightFest
frames from A LITTLE DEATH · cinematography by Oliver Ford
2021 · 18 MIN · CRIME / DRAMA
directed and written by
Elena is hired by a small-time gangster to honeytrap a juror during a trial. When she finds herself falling for her target, she must decide whether or not to go through with the job.
London Film School · Pinzutu Films · Mother Pictures
DP Tamás Apor Méder
LA Shorts · Brooklyn Film Festival
One half of ASAP Productions — musical satire films with original songs, written and performed by Maria and creative partner Jessie Barnett.
At a London property firm, a misanthropic secretary decides to seduce her boss and sue him for sexual harassment.
Flickerfest
Maria was born in London in 1993 to a Russian mother and Polish father, which caused some amount of cultural confusion and just the right amount of conflict to discover strength (and story potential) in the clash of one’s multiple identities.
She read English at Queens’ College, Cambridge where she directed, wrote and acted in plays, including for the Cambridge Footlights. After graduating she worked for three years as development executive to film producer Tanya Seghatchian (Harry Potter, The Crown, The Power of the Dog), before moving to New York where she financed her first short, A Little Death. In 2021 she graduated from The London Film School with a Filmmaking MA where she directed, wrote and edited several shorts films (Kitty, So Far So Good) that have been nominated at festivals including PÖFF, LA Shorts, Brooklyn Film Festival.
With creative partner Jessie Barnett she co-founded ASAP Productions in 2023, making musical satires with original songs that she also writes and performs. Her feature debut, Curse in a Frame, wrapped in Hastings in March 2026 and is now in post-production. A musical feature version of A Little Death is in late stage development with Emu Films.
