Cartel Welcomes Editors Saam Hodivala and Emma Blackman to its Roster

Editing and post production company Cartel is excited to welcome editors Saam Hodivala and Emma Blackman to its roster for representation across the US. 

Based in London, Saam is an accomplished film editor with a back catalogue of award winning work crafted over an impressive ten year career. Recognised for his work in the comedy genre and his fruitful relationships with acclaimed directors such as Jeff Low, Guy Shelmerdine and Andrew Gaynord, Saam has built a reputation for crafting compelling stories and cutting stand out performances. 

Beyond advertising, Saam cut his first feature film, ‘All My Friends Hate Me’ in 2020 which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2021 and was released in cinemas in 2022. More recently, Saam cut the TV Show ‘A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demitriou’, an hour long musical sketch-comedy special for Netflix released in February 2023. Saam founded the London-based boutique edit house Shift Post in 2021, establishing a collaborative home for editorial talent, which aims to bring a new level of creativity to the editing process. 

Saam Hodivala, editor, Cartel commented, “Although I am mainly known for my comedy work, I just love telling stories and cutting performances. It feels like Cartel is the perfect place to evolve as an editor because of the incredible array of short and long-form work they do. I already feel hugely supported by their amazing team! I’m really excited at the prospect of doing US comedy, I think British comedic sensibilities combined with US comedic sensibilities creates something extra special!”

Emma Blackman joins Cartel’s roster with over a decade of experience within post production. With a robust and well-trained eye, Emma’s editing style is graceful and rhythmic, influenced by her background as a dancer. Beyond the cutting room, Emma’s expertise sees her take on the roles of director of photography, creative director and colourist – showing her multifaceted capabilities and passion for storytelling. 

Most recently, Emma has been freelancing and building connections within the industry, so joining Cartel was a natural next step in order to connect with fellow editors and expand her reach in the field. 

Emma Blackman, editor, Cartel said, “After years of honing my skills as an independent editor, the decision to join Cartel was a no-brainer. It’s a fantastic opportunity to keep expanding my experience as an editor while working alongside some truly talented individuals.”

Lauren Bleiweiss, managing director, Cartel, added, "We are thrilled to welcome Emma and Saam. Both of them are such strong talents and both embody the bright spirits that reflect our creative culture. It's a very exciting time for Cartel, particularly as we have just expanded into our permanent NY space. These two editors joining our team makes it all even more so."