Lola Atkins is an award-winning screenwriter and director whose work explores resilience, identity, and the complexity of the human spirit through bold, character-driven storytelling.
She began her creative career as an actress with the English National Opera, performing in acclaimed productions including The Palace in the Sky, before transitioning into filmmaking. Her directorial debut, the short film Hush, announced her arrival as a distinctive new voice, screening at the Cannes Film Festival and the BFM International Film Festival and earning multiple awards.
Lola’s short-form work spans genres and tone, showcasing her versatility and narrative precision. Her films include The Likelihood (thriller), Beats (drama), Being Red (animation), and Bad Luck Sally (comedy), each demonstrating her ability to blend emotional depth with strong visual storytelling.
Her feature debut, Purple Beatz (also known as Clock), premiered at BFI Southbank in 2021. The coming-of-age romantic drama received critical acclaim, winning the Rising Star Award at the I Will Tell International Film Festival, alongside nominations for Best Drama, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor. The film was also nominated for Best Music Supervision at the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards (USA). Released by Trinity/101, Purple Beatz is currently streaming on Prime Video, TiVo, and Apple TV.
Lola trained at Raindance Film School and the London Film Academy, and is an alumna of Robert McKee’s Storylogue Workshops. She has been mentored by acclaimed British action director Pete Travis, with further development support from Film London’s Director Lab and multiple Sundance Directing Workshops.
With degrees in Microbiology from King’s College London and Film Production from Raindance, Lola brings a rare fusion of scientific discipline and creative intuition to her filmmaking. She is currently developing several feature projects, including Entropy (psychological thriller), The Hite Report (biographical drama), and A Long Road to Goodbye (drama).
Membership: Directors UK