SVETLANA SERIGNY - SHE SPOTLIGHT
- Johanna K. Lumi
- May 7
- 3 min read
Documentary Producer / Caregiver Advocate & Speaker | SPCH
Based in Cannes, France
In this She Spotlight, Johanna sits down with Svetlana Serigny - a documentary producer, author and speaker whose work is rooted in lived experience and driven by a mission to shift perspectives on disability, resilience and caregiving.
Entering the industry outside traditional pathways, she uses storytelling as a tool for impact - bringing deeply personal realities into public conversation and creating space for stories that are often left unseen.
You’ve described your journey into the industry as one shaped by a deeply personal experience. Looking back, what first brought you into this world, and what kind of change are you hoping to make through your work now?
I didn’t enter the film industry through a traditional path - I came into it because of my son.
At four years old, he survived a cardiac arrest - 25 minutes without a heartbeat - something most children do not survive. This experience didn’t just change my life, it gave me a voice and a mission.
I use film as a tool to shift perspectives - on disability, on resilience, and on what happens after survival. My work is about making the invisible visible, especially the reality of families and caregivers that society often overlooks.
You’re currently expanding your work beyond film into public speaking and conferences. What are you building or stepping into right now, and why does it matter at this stage?
Right now, I am expanding my work beyond film into conferences and public speaking, particularly within companies and institutions.
I am building a bridge between personal experience and collective awareness. In France alone, there are over 11 million caregivers, most of them invisible in the workplace, which has a direct impact on well-being, performance and retention - yet it remains largely unrecognised.
My role is not to train, but to create a shift - a moment of awareness that makes people see differently. Because once you see, you cannot unsee.
From the outside, your journey can appear defined by resilience. What’s something people wouldn’t necessarily see about your path?
What people don’t see is the complexity behind the word “resilience.”
After my son survived, the real journey began - years of uncertainty, constant adaptation, and decision-making without clear answers. I had to navigate medical systems, explore therapies around the world, and carry the responsibility of making choices that would shape his future.
There is no roadmap for this kind of life. What also remains invisible is the mental load - being a parent, a decision-maker, a researcher, while holding everything together.
This experience has shaped not only my work, but the way I think, act, and build.
As you come into Cannes this year, what does the festival represent to you right now, and what are you hoping to make happen while you’re there?
Cannes represents a turning point.
It’s where I move from a personal story to a public platform - from something intimate to something that can reach a wider audience and create real impact.
I don’t come from the film industry, so simply being there is already a significant step. What I’m looking for is connection - with festivals, collaborators, and people who believe in meaningful storytelling.
I want to bring this story into spaces where it can resonate, open conversations, and shift perceptions.
You’ve spoken about creating connections across different worlds. What does “building collective power” mean to you in practice, and who are you hoping to connect with next?
For me, building collective power means connecting people who don’t usually meet.
Families, filmmakers, companies, researchers - everyone holds a piece of the reality, but they rarely interact. My work is about creating those bridges.
I am looking to connect with people and organisations who want to create impact - festivals, producers, companies open to new narratives, and partners who understand that stories like this are not just personal, but societal.
Because real change doesn’t happen alone - it happens when stories become shared.
Svetlana Serigny will be joining the She Squad at Cannes 2026.
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER
Johanna K. Lumi is a Finnish-born, London-based actress and interviewer working across the UK, Nordic and wider European film industries. With an active career in acting and experience across directing, casting and production, she has also conducted red carpet interviews at the Finnish Oscars, bringing an industry-insider perspective to her work.
At the Marché du Film 2026, she is conducting interviews for Yes She Cannes, spotlighting female creatives and building relationships across the global film community. Alongside her acting work, she is developing a cross-Scandinavian production and expanding her presence across European markets. (IG: @johannak.lumi )
Post created by Isabella Bonfante. (IG: @isabellabonfante )
Yes She Cannes is a global platform dedicated to elevating women in film through visibility, connection and access - creating meaningful opportunities at Cannes and beyond. Follow along: @yesshecannes
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