From hospitality shifts to film sets, building stories with heart and hustle
If you’ve met Ilija Kniazev at Thrive, you’ll know he wears many hats. He’s an actor. A producer. And someone who believes that storytelling has power, especially when it’s backed by action.
His path into film started with a simple offer to help friends with location scouting. That turned into stepping up on set, guiding decisions, and bringing his background in hospitality and management into creative spaces. Eventually, the people around him said what he hadn’t: you’re already a producer.
We caught up with Ilija to learn more about his journey, how Tree Shepherd has supported his growth, and why his latest project The Application is more than just a short film. It’s a statement of intent.
🎥 What drew Ilija to film?
“In my belief, there are stories that are crying to be told,” he says. “But they need someone brave and passionate to bring them to life.”
Ilija describes himself as a multipotentialite, someone with many interests and transferable skills. Although new to acting, he brings practical insight from previous management roles in hospitality. That mix has helped him navigate creative teams, solve problems, and step into producing with confidence.
“I first started scouting locations for friends,” he explains. “Then I naturally began helping with decisions, finding ways forward when the team needed it. One day, my whole team said, ‘Wow, you’re a producer.’ I’m grateful to the people who supported me on this path. The film industry feels like home for me.”
💼 Lessons from Strongman’s Tipple
Before moving into creative work, Ilija worked as Production Manager at Strongman’s Tipple, reporting to founders Lukas and Tom.
“I’ve known them for a long time, even from when they just started. These gentlemen are businessmen with grit and integrity,” he says. “They work hard to find solutions for anything you can imagine in the hospitality sector.”
What stuck with him most was the work culture.
“I’ve never worked in a place where employees were treated with that much respect,” he says. “I learned about transparency and integrity. There’s nothing to hide. You treat everyone well, your business partners and your team.”
Challenges came up, but they were always faced together. “We regrouped for solutions. As a team, we took challenges openly. Challenges are small. Solutions are bigger when you work as a team.”
🌱 Finding a creative home at Thrive
Now based at Thrive, Tree Shepherd’s co-working space, Ilija has found a new kind of workplace community.
“Thrive is a great community,” he says. “We’ve organically started chatting about different opportunities, like creating some film merchandise together. People here connect across projects and help each other out.”
The Tree Shepherd community has also offered something less tangible but just as important.
“I’ve definitely made good contacts from different industries,” he adds. “That kind of support is invaluable when you’re starting something you’ve never done before.”
While he hasn’t yet taken part in Tree Shepherd mentoring or workshops, he’s interested in both joining and contributing.
“I’d love to learn from more experienced mentors. But I’d also love to help teach the creative side of things. I’d be proud to contribute to the Tree Shepherd mentoring programme.”
🎬 The Application, a story about identity, danger, and connection
Ilija’s current project is The Application, a short psychological thriller that explores identity, moral decay, and human connection under pressure.
The logline:
“When a glamorous nightclub worker vanishes, her naive sister stumbles into a world of crime, seduction, and betrayal. This forces a deadly game between a haunted bartender, a ruthless madam, and the shadowy kingpin pulling the strings.”
The film is already shot. The team is now raising funds through Kickstarter to complete postproduction, take the film to festivals, and hold a premiere screening. The campaign has already hit 110 percent of its target in just 16 days.
Ilija credits much of the progress to the campaign team.
“Our Postproduction Producer, Valeriya Nikuta Korchagina, developed a punchy strategy for Kickstarter that paid off,” he says. “Since the film is already filmed, we had a lot of quality footage to use in marketing.”
Branding and Advertising Manager Sabrina Bisi and a small campaign team worked hard to build their online presence and promote the style and tone of the film. Alongside their digital work, they also hosted an in-person Drink & Draw event in partnership with Kevin Jaribu (aka @mudi.artist on Instagram).
Now, the team is focused on increasing reach and preparing for a premiere.
🎯 What’s the Kickstarter funding?
The campaign is currently in its final two weeks. Funds raised will go toward:
- Completing postproduction
- Submitting to the festival circuit
- Hosting a premiere screening
- Early development of the next film, currently scheduled for March 2025
Supporters receive access to a wide selection of rewards, including:
- Q&A sessions with the film’s director and producer
- Exclusive early screening access
- A virtual tour of the set
- Signed digital character cards, posters, and the final script
- A “special thanks” credit in the film
🔗 Kickstarter link: The Application on Kickstarter
🎓 Creative mentoring and giving back
Ilija is passionate about sharing knowledge, especially with young people, new creators, and others making a career switch like he did.
“I believe a lot of people might benefit from learning about creative producing and business,” he says. “For young people, it can help them choose what they love. New creators can learn a trick or two. And I do feel for career switchers because I’m one myself.”
He’s open to a range of learning formats: short clinics, shadowing, or one-to-one support.
“In my belief, this kind of learning works best in small, intimate settings. But one size doesn’t fit all. Some people will learn everything they need from a day on set. Others might need a few one-to-one mentoring sessions. I’m open to all of it because I believe in the power of community.”
When asked what would help make that happen, Ilija points to outreach and space.
“We’re still building our own community. Help spreading the word would make a big difference. And if we do in-person classes, we may need a space to accommodate the crowd.”
📱 Advice for new creators? Start now.
If you’re in Southwark and want to create something this week, Ilija has one clear suggestion:
“Write your story and film it. On your phone. With your mates.”
“You can spend years studying theory and still not create anything,” he says. “Going out and making it happen will teach you more. It won’t be perfect. It might even be bad. But you’ll know what to improve next time. Nobody does things perfectly the first time. But everyone is better the next.”
🗓 What’s next?
- 🎬 Premiere screening of The Application – late December or early January
- 🎥 Next film project – tentatively scheduled for March 2026
- 🤝 More events and creative partnerships – details coming soon
Stay up to date or support the project:
- 🔗 Kickstarter
🌿 Tree Shepherd x Creative Entrepreneurs
Ilija’s story is a great reminder that you don’t need a perfect plan to get started. Sometimes, you just need to begin with what you have, learn as you go, and find your people along the way.
We’re proud to support creative entrepreneurs who are using their skills and stories to build something new.
📩 Want to grow your own business or creative practice?
Visit treeshepherd.org.uk to join Thrive, access mentoring, or explore our courses.
Let’s grow together.
