Hamse Abdilahi: Supporting Underrepresented Filmmakers
“I had a very rough time getting a big break. I was facing one barrier after another.”
Hamse spent years trying to break into the UK’s creative and media industry. “I had a very rough time getting a big break. I was facing one barrier after another,” he explains. “The creative media industry in the UK is very elitist. There’s a middle and upper class dominating. Even those from ethnic minority backgrounds are there but just in very few numbers.”
Rather than give up, he turned his struggle into a solution. He launched a CIC to support underrepresented filmmakers and aspiring creators. “I’m trying to solve the problem I had myself years back — helping underrepresented filmmakers get professional development, the skills and the know-how, how to break through.” Registering as a CIC opened doors to grants, partnerships, and credibility. The ultimate goal is to connect with major media organisations like ITV, BBC, and Channel 4. “We’re still not yet there, but that’s the end goal.”
“By the time we came, my idea was just a business idea. Then we got the grant and a few more grants. Now the company is operational.”
When Hamse joined Trampoline, his company was still an idea. “By the time we came, my idea was just a business idea. Then we got the grant and a few more grants. Now the company is operational.” The programme pushed him to think differently. “It challenged me and made me really rethink. Sometimes the solution was just right before you, but you were not getting it. We need that fresh perspective.” Key takeaways for him were sharpening his personal story, understanding branding deeply, and applying rigorous financial thinking. He redesigned his website with a new brand identity that reflects his mission.
Momentum is building
That ambition is already yielding results. Hamse participated in ITV’s Green Room programme for underrepresented filmmakers, training at ITV’s White City Studio. “It was an eye-opening experience and I made connections.” While those haven’t yet translated to revenue, the momentum is building.
His advice for other entrepreneurs is clear: “Get your story right. Your branding, your business story right. Know where you can pitch that idea to.”
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