Diana
Daljajev

After completing an English, Film and TV BA in 2020, Diana Daljajev has held a number of roles within the film industry and is currently an International Sales Coordinator at Kaleidoscope Film Distribution. Diana reflects on her time at NTU and shares how her course helped her decide what she wanted to specialise in.

Why did you choose to study at NTU?

I was interested in doing a course in both English and Film and was looking for universities that offered both. NTU not only had these courses but also had the added bonus of TV studies and that sealed the deal for me. Additionally, I spoke to one of the representatives and he left a very pleasant impression of the university.

What did you learn – both inside and outside of lectures?

I first learned about a different side of the film industry that could work for me in one of the guest lectures where they talked about what it takes to bring a movie to the audiences. Since I’m from Estonia, I also learned valuable life skills by moving to a foreign country on my own which made my character a lot stronger than it otherwise would’ve been.

What still makes you smile when you look back?

I have really fond memories of the social life and the people I met who are still my close friends to this day.

What does your current day involve?

My typical day usually consists of helping out our Director of Sales with administrative tasks, communicating with distributors and sending them screener links and materials as well as other tasks that pop up throughout the day. During film markets I also assist our CEO on the distribution side by sending relevant info that helps him decide if a title is worth pursuing.

What attracted you to this field of work?

I knew I wanted to do something in the film industry but I didn’t want to be a director or producer and thought being part of the creative process might not be for me. I looked into jobs in the film industry where people worked behind the scenes to get the movie out there and found a lot of interesting roles in both the indie sector as well as in the big studios.

What challenges have you faced?

I have had to learn new things in a fast-paced environment and adapt quickly. However, I was lucky enough to get some help from my manager and other colleagues who answered my many questions and provided me with support when needed. That helped me feel more confident but also develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

What have been the highlights and biggest challenges of your career so far?

As part of my job, I attend the Cannes and Berlin Film Festivals and Markets every year and these are definitely the highlights of my job as they give me so much more insight into the industry. Biggest challenges have probably been having to adapt to new ways and systems quickly.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m hoping to become a film sales agent, selling film rights in different territories.

If you had a time machine, what would you go back and tell yourself at uni?

It’s okay to not have it all figured out right away. You might stumble upon jobs in the field you like that you’ve never even heard of and end up feeling like it’s a perfect fit.

Finally, is there a piece of advice you'd like to share?

You probably hear this a lot but networking is everything.

Diana Daljajev on LinkedIn