Wittenborg Student’s Short Film Wins Awards at Multiple Festivals

12.06.2025

Sara Azizi’s Animation ‘Whispers of Magic’ Inspired by Her Own Experiences

Through art, Wittenborg student Sara Seyed Azizi has found a way to process her emotions and express herself. Originally from Iran, Sara is currently pursuing a Master of Business Management (MBM) in Applied Artificial Intelligence. However, her path to the Netherlands was not a straight one. She had initially intended to study for a bachelor's degree in Games Art at the University of the Arts London, but her visa to the United Kingdom was unexpectedly denied, forcing her to abandon her plans. That disappointment became a source of motivation for her to create the animated short film ‘Whispers of Magic’, produced in 2024.

“I was really sad and stressed, and usually when I'm not feeling well, I try to make something out of it. The bigger the frustration, the better the project has to be. So, while I was applying to other higher education institutions in the Netherlands, I started working on this art project. I wrote the script, started my own studio, created a website and even hired two animators. I spent about three months working on the film,” she says.

The protagonist of ‘Whispers of Magic’ is a young woman struggling with anxiety and stress, who escapes those feelings by entering an imaginary world where she becomes a child version of herself. After completing the short, Sara was exploring platforms to release it when she had the idea of submitting it to film festivals.

“The very first thing that came to my mind was that this was a really simple animation and I wasn’t going to make it. My first ten submissions were all rejected, and I felt completely hopeless. But on my birthday, 15 October, I received a message from the UK Film Awards saying that my movie had made it into their official selection. I was totally shocked because it’s a really well-known festival that features films by big companies and studios,” Sara points out.

This was the beginning of a journey that took ‘Whispers of Magic’ to more than 18 festivals across countries including the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, India and Brazil. The film won awards at the Amsterdam New Cinema Film Festival, Stockholm City Film Festival, Portugal Indie Film Festival, Kollywood International Film Festival and Rohip International Film Festival, as well as an Honourable Mention at the UK Film Awards.

Happy with the reception, Sara says that audience feedback has also been positive. “Some people who watched it told me they got goosebumps and were moved by the ending. But I’d say the reactions vary depending on the viewer.”

She adds that ‘Whispers of Magic’ is expected to be available on online platforms in the coming months.

Among other influences, Sara draws inspiration from fantasy films and literature such as ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ series, as well as from music and nature. The young filmmaker notes that she has plans for creating other works of art including films and games. “I would really like to work with male characters as well in the future. It's a really interesting challenge for me because I'm a woman, so I'm not familiar with men's perspectives, but I want to study another gender and create a relatable, solid character. I would like to experiment with live action too.”

A way to connect different fields and people

To create ‘Whispers of Magic’, Sara used Unreal Engine and other 3D computer graphics software, relying on her previous experience. “I studied Computer Engineering back in Iran, at the Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran. Even though I would rather have studied art, I didn’t have access to any programmes in that field, so I decided to go after something that could help me become better at solving puzzles. I chose computer engineering because I really like making games, and in my free time I practised with 3D and 2D software,” she points out.

Although her current programme is marketing-focused, the student says the shift in direction has been for the better. “Engineering and art make a great combination for marketing, and I’m becoming more and more interested in the business field. But no matter what I do, I will always carry art with me.”

Sara concludes by highlighting that what she loves most about art is its ability to connect people. “We need to understand each other, and I feel that art is one of the best tools to do that. It’s also a way to keep memories alive and preserve them for the future.”