Community Highlights: Meet Nadia Sarmova of The Shift Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Sarmova.

Hi Nadia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from film school with zero roadmap for breaking in. Then I stumbled onto an indie film shooting on a beach and that chance encounter led me to my first mentor, Director of Photography, Curtis Graham, who took me under his wing and taught me cameras from the ground up. I worked my way up as a 1st Assistant Camera, learning to literally see a set.

From there I moved to New York, where my first job was building the marketing department of a fledgling nonprofit from scratch – I was one of four founding members. That scrappy environment pushed me fast. I wrote and directed the organization’s first-ever PSA, which gave me the chance to work with a remarkable and diverse cast and crew, including cinematographer Andrij Parekh, who has since become one of the most respected DPs working today. I feel genuinely fortunate I got to collaborate with him as a young filmmaker.

After a stint in TV and film distribution and a season as a Development Associate in TV features, I met a talented writer-director who introduced me to the best 1st AD I’ve ever worked with: Inna Braude. Inna gave me my first real opportunity to train in the AD department, and whatever success I’ve had as a 1st AD, I owe largely to her mentorship.

I spent several years moving between development and 1st ADing features and commercials, a combination that quietly shaped how I think as a producer today. In 2018, I returned to Los Angeles and found three of my most valued creative partners: Maureen Isern and Mary Albertoli, with whom I co-founded The Shift Productions, and Ray Wongchinda, a DP and producer I collaborate with frequently, including on a feature that took home an Africa Movie Academy Award.

Honestly, my whole journey has been built on the people I’ve gotten to play and problem solve with, on and off set.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m more of a crunchy peanut butter person than a smooth one and my journey has reflected that pretty faithfully. Coming from a family with zero ties to the entertainment industry, finding my footing has been one of the most persistent challenges. There’s no inherited Rolodex, no family friend who “knows someone.” You figure it out by showing up, staying curious, and earning trust one relationship at a time.

I’ll also say something I don’t love saying out loud: being an attractive woman in a male-dominated industry has been its own kind of obstacle. I’m someone who genuinely loves people and leads with warmth and that has, more than once, been misread entirely. Navigating that without becoming guarded or cynical is its own ongoing project.

And then there’s access. Hollywood has some of the most talented gatekeepers in the world, which means the doors worth opening are also the hardest to reach. Building proximity to people who can move the needle, and doing it on the merit of your work and your relationships, takes time, patience, and a willingness to play a long game.

The road has been bumpy. But I’d take crunchy over smooth any day.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Shift Productions?
The Shift Productions is an award-winning production company built on a simple but radical premise: that stories about mental and emotional wellbeing deserve to be told with the same craft, rigor, and care we’d give any great story. The co-founders Maureen Isern, Mary Albertoli, and I believe the right story, told well, can genuinely change how someone sees themselves and the world around them. We specialize in mental health and emotional wellbeing storytelling across social campaigns, branded content, film, and events. What sets us apart is the infrastructure behind how we approach content creation. Mary spent 15 years as a licensed clinical social worker, which means clinical expertise lives inside the company, not as an afterthought. That’s rare in this industry, and it’s something our collaborators and brand partners genuinely value. We also routinely collaborate with influencers, including creator, host and producer, Adrienne Finch – an avid champion of mental health and lead #Shiftstarter.

On the film side, we consult with filmmakers, studios, and production companies on projects that tackle the full spectrum of human experience, from schizophrenia and suicidal ideation to anxiety, depression, grief and beyond. We’re as focused on authentic representation and real-world impact as we are on making sure the people making the film – the cast and crew alike – are taken care of. Our projects don’t just screen; they spark conversations, build community, and connect audiences to resources that outlast the credits.

With brands, we partner with wellness, lifestyle, and tech companies to create content that makes their audiences feel genuinely seen, not just marketed to.

What I’m most proud of is the standard we hold ourselves to. Emotional wellbeing isn’t a trend for us – it’s a responsibility. Every project we attach our name to goes through one filter: does this story serve its audience responsibly? That question shapes everything. Ultimately, the Shift Productions exists for storytellers willing to go to the harder, more honest places and for the audiences waiting for someone to meet them there.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If you’re a brand, organization, or a filmmaker, production company or studio interested in addressing emotional wellbeing in your content, project or event, please get it touch. We’d genuinely love to hear from you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theshiftproductions.com
• Instagram: theshift.com.official
• Other: https://www.theshift.com