We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sofiya Saykovska a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sofiya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

A big part of growing your portfolio and experience is getting access to any and every project you can, even if it means creating your own and doing everything from directing to camera to editing. For me, this means collaboration with friends and family, especially in the beginning of my career.
From school projects to music videos and early short films, my friends and family were around to lend a hand. Most recently I completed a music video for my friends, The Skags. They had an idea for a video for their new song, ‘Belushi’ and let me take the reigns. As they are good friends of mine, they had full trust and gave me creative freedom to run the project. Just a simple project with my friends and I having fun reminds me of my love for editing and creating. I think open communication is a must whenever you work with friends, to prevent opposing artistic ideas or even just to let them know you appreciate them, because, as an artist, we appreciate every ounce of support we can get.

Sofiya, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Sofiya Saykovska, and I am an emerging film and video editor with a passion for storytelling. My editing journey began when I first discovered the art of splicing footage on a home video camera, and it has since driven me to earn my Film BFA from the School of Visual Arts just this past year.

Throughout my time at SVA, I had the opportunity to edit dozens of projects for classmates, friends, and clients. Many of my works have been recognized and awarded at film festivals, and both thesis films I edited received prestigious grants from the SVA Alumni Society.

I have experience editing a diverse range of projects—from ballroom dance performances to comedies and dramas—and I thrive on new challenges. My editing style is often described as having a natural flow, something that I attribute to my keen eye for detail and rhythm.

My creativity is nurtured by various art forms, including music, writing, dance, photography, and painting. These diverse expressions influence my editing process, enabling me to work with both precision and intuition.

Above all, I love what I do and take great joy in collaborating with other creatives to bring stories to life.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

For artists, building connections is undeniably the most important aspect of advancing your career. You need to engage with others, and you need to do it effectively. However, for young, anxious, and emerging artists, this can be one of the most daunting challenges, especially since no one really teaches you how to navigate it. You have to push yourself outside your comfort zone and take the leap, even when it feels intimidating.

My first year of college was entirely remote, a necessary shift due to Covid precautions. While this was crucial at the time, it hindered my ability to develop strong communication skills—particularly when it came to filmmaking, which thrives on in-person collaboration. When I finally returned to campus, I was hopeful, but as time went on, I felt drained and withdrawn. I made excuses for my lack of productivity and found comfort in being alone. But I quickly realized that this mindset was only holding me back.

In my final year of school, I decided to change course. It was thesis year, and I was determined to create something meaningful. I edited two thesis films, both of which were transformative experiences and incredible projects to witness come to life. I spent more time on set (and let me tell you, being an editor on set is no easy feat) and took on different roles, such as DIT and Script Supervisor. It was tough, but the more I immersed myself, the more people I met, and the more I was able to grow.

Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But you’ll never know what opportunities you might have missed if you hadn’t taken that first step and simply said, “Yes.”

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

To me, the most rewarding aspect of any project is the story behind it. Regardless of the medium, there’s always an idea that sparks the creation, a thought that shapes the final result. Even something as subtle as trimming a frame from a clip—there’s a reason for it, a vision that guides the decision. When you’re in the zone, with ideas flowing freely, you’re building something from nothing, and it’s truly mind-blowing to watch it all come together. Sometimes, the original story shifts, scenes get rearranged, and things don’t go as planned, but in the end, something beautiful is still created.

Of course, storytelling isn’t just about the process; it’s about how it makes people feel. When someone tells you, “I loved this,” or “That was so funny!”—it’s a moment that means the world. I recently edited a film called Good Enough, directed by my good friend Sabrina Geffner. It’s a deeply emotional film, and even though I edited it and had seen it countless times, I still found myself tearing up during the final scene.

So, for me, the two most rewarding aspects of editing are the satisfaction of shaping the story and the emotional impact it has on others. Nothing compares to that feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sofsaymedia.weebly.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofsaymedia/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofsay/
• Twitter: https://x.com/sofsaymedia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sofsaymedia

Image Credits

Chris Aguilar
Maureen Romero
Maura Garnett
Sabrina Geffner
Sofiya Saykovska