Meet the cast and director of A Year In London

Melanie Liburd, Nina Pons and Flaminia Graziadei talk about telling this moving lesbian love story

BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE PROVIDED

If you love slow burn romances and all things fashion, you’ll love this new film by award-winning director Flaminia Graziadei. Starring Melanie Liburd (This Is Us) and Nina Pons (La Confessione), this lesbian love story follows Olly (played by Nina) a sheltered Italian fashion student studying in London. After she and her inspiring mentor Nina (played by Melanie) survive a violent robbery, they strike up an unexpected and intimate bond.

This film carries strong themes of sustainability, identity, self-discovery and acceptance. It’s perfect viewing for fans of The Bold Type and Emily In Paris. I was excited to get the chance to speak with the director and leads ahead of A Year In London’s UK release.

Starting things off, Flaminia, what inspired you to tell this story? 

Flaminia: It all started with a short film I made years ago that explored searching for one’s own sexual identity. It was very well received and won quite a few awards in the Festivals Circuit, so I was prompted to develop it into a feature. Then, as usual, it has changed a lot over the years of development, until it became  A Year in London. The story combines different phases of my life and those of many people I have met over the years in various countries, and I look at it as a metaphorical bridge between different languages, cultures and generations.

It was wonderful to see much-needed Black lesbian representation on screen. Melanie, you’ve played characters who are both headstrong and vulnerable. What was it like getting into her headspace?

Melanie: What drew me to Nina was how beautifully complex she is. On the surface, she presents this incredibly polished, fashionable, powerful exterior, but underneath she’s deeply kind, loving and generous. She cares about giving back to her community, and she’s someone who takes both her work and her responsibility as a professor incredibly seriously.

When she begins to develop feelings for one of her students, she’s genuinely conflicted. She wants to do the right thing, and that’s what makes her journey so compelling. She’s trying to navigate something that’s emotionally confusing while staying true to her own principles. I also appreciated that their relationship isn’t rushed. They don’t cross any physical boundaries until the end of the semester, so what develops first is an emotional connection. They get to know each other through friendship, mentorship and mutual respect, before it becomes something deeper.

And, of course, I think it’s so important to see representation that reflects the richness and diversity of our community. Whether it’s race, gender or sexuality, seeing yourself represented on screen is incredibly powerful. It makes people feel seen and heard, and it allows us to tell stories that haven’t always had the opportunity to be told.

Nina, it was great to watch Olly’s confidence bloom throughout her journey of self-discovery. How did you prepare for the role? 

Nina: I connected with Olly from the moment I read the script — she felt real and immediate, not an idea on a page but a person I wanted to meet. I spent time thinking about her family back in Italy and how leaving home for London would both excite and unsettle her. That helped me find the balance between her curiosity and the vulnerability behind it. On set I kept looking for honest, unplanned moments — a glance that says more than dialogue — and tried to let those moments breathe.  Most of all, I wanted to show her inner life: her need for connection and the small, tentative joy as she discovers herself.

Since this is both a love story between women and a tale about moving countries and growing up, I tried to capture those layers without turning her into a stereotype. Ultimately, my goal was to make Olly feel like someone you’d want to sit next to on the tube — hopeful and quietly brave. If the audience can see her truth and feel with her as she finds herself and love in a new city, then I’ve done my job.

Flaminia, what was important to you when it came to the lesbian representation in this film?

F: I wanted to tell a lesbian love story, from the moment a person starts realising is falling in love through all those subtle nuances that build up during the encounter, till the coronation of it. My aim is for the viewer to identify in what they are watching and root for this couple to be together, despite their gender.

Do you have a favourite queer film or show you can tell us about? 

F: I have a few. Carol. It’s incredibly sensual and beautifully created. Bound is sexy, fast-paced, groundbreaking for the year it was shot. The L Word is the series that literally revolutionised how the audience was looking at gay women. And there’s a special one, old but very poignant: Desert Hearts.

M: Growing up, my favourite queer show was definitely The L Word. I remember being completely drawn into it – the performances were incredible, the storytelling was bold, and it felt genuinely groundbreaking for its time. Looking back, it’s amazing how relevant so many of its themes still are today. I also remember really admiring Jennifer Beals. She brought so much strength, depth and elegance to her role, and I found her incredibly inspiring as an actor.

N: Blue Is the Warmest Colour is a film that really stayed with me. I found it very powerful because it feels so intimate and honest in the way it shows love and self-discovery. It’s one of those films that leaves you thinking about how deeply a relationship can shape who you are.

What conversations do you hope this film opens up in the home?

M: Ultimately, I hope the film encourages people to be more open, curious and accepting, and reminds us that everyone’s experience of love and connection is something we can all relate to.

N: I hope it encourages families to talk about love in all its forms, and about creating a home where people feel safe to be themselves.

F: If this film triggers positive conversations, understanding and genuine inclusion, I would be quite pleased with the result.

A Year In London will be in UK Cinemas from 17th July and you can watch the trailer below

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