Between smartphones having ultrazoom cameras nd viral content, the boundaries of privacy blur with every swipe and share, Fine Girl delivers a sharp, unsettling punch. A dark comedy-thriller from writer-director Fatimah Binta Gimsay, the short film explores consent, boundaries, and the fantasy of female rage in just about 12 minutes.
We sat down with Gimsay to talk about the making of Fine Girl, its unique approach to storytelling, and the themes that make it more relevant than ever.
A Day in the Life of a Man Who Crosses the Line
Fine Girl tells the story of a young man who takes unsolicited pictures of a woman in his estate.
The film thrives on tension, blending humor with an underlying unease. “If this film was made in 2004, it would use jazz to send the message across,” she adds, “but today we simply use modern technology and the fantasy of female rage.”
That modern edge is what makes Fine Girl stand out. In an era where people’s images are captured, shared, and meme-ified without consent, the film serves as both a cautionary tale and a wish-fulfillment fantasy.
“You’ll always remember her whenever you see a pink bow,” Gimsay teases, hinting at a visual motif tied to the lead character. “And the next time you take a picture of someone without their consent, you’ll remember our film.”
The Team Behind the Story
Fatimah Binta Gimsay leads Fine Girl as writer, director, and producer. The film also boasts a stellar cast:
- Martha Orhiere (Wura, Unscripted)
- Obehi Aburime (Unscripted, Game On)
- Omosalewa Fafowora (Unscripted)
A Film That Feels More Urgent Than Ever
Beyond its darkly comedic tone, Fine Girl taps into the unsettling reality of privacy violations in today’s digital world.
“We find the film more relevant than ever,” Gimsay explains. “Especially with growing disturbing stories about women across the world losing their rights to privacy.”
She points out that the conversation extends beyond women:
“It is important to highlight how people feel unsafe in public spaces because a stranger can whip out their phone and turn you into the latest meme by morning.”
This unease fuels the film’s central conflict, where an action; taking someone’s picture without their knowledge—becomes the catalyst for something far more sinister.
The Hustle Behind the Scenes
Shot in Lagos, Nigeria, Fine Girl came together through sheer determination and resourcefulness.
“We raised funds in about six weeks,” Gimsay reveals. “The major challenge was the increase in the prices of everything. One thing we will always say is that the money wasn’t enough, but we were able to land the ship.”
Despite financial constraints, the team pulled off an impressive feat: filming the entire project in one day across two main locations. The final cut runs for 12 minutes and 14 seconds, packing a powerful punch within its short runtime.
For now, Fine Girl is making the festival rounds.
“The plan is to submit to festivals and announce them as we get accepted,” says Gimsay. Special screenings are also in the works, with details to be revealed soon.
For Gimsay, Fine Girl is just the beginning of a larger story she hopes to tell in feature-length form.
“As a director and writer, it was important to make this film,” she says. “It’s inspired by a feature-length story I hope to make soon surrounding the same themes.”
She describes the film as both humorous and unsettling:
“On the surface, it’s a comedy that makes you laugh in a very uncomfortable situation, but on a deeper and possibly morbid level, it’s a revenge fantasy on taking back control of how you want to be perceived. I hope a few people can connect with this body of work.”
Her approach to storytelling is anything but conventional—something that becomes even clearer when you get to know her.
Fun Facts About Fatimah Binta Gimsay
- She’s a polyglot who wishes she could spend most of her days studying different cultures and languages.
- Despite loving music, she can go an entire month without listening to a single song.
- She isn’t interested in writing about “strong female characters.” Instead, she says:“Give me chaotic and unhinged women, and I will be there.”.
- She has never worked a 9-5 job—she ran straight onto a film set before even graduating university.
With Fine Girl, Gimsay has crafted a film that lingers long after the credits roll. It’s bold, unsettling, and eerily timely.
And if you ever find yourself about to take a stranger’s picture without their consent? You just might think twice.
