Meet TTS Scholar Lily Malm, Class of 2025-26
This month we are spotlighting Lily Malm, one of our amazing 2025-2026 scholars. Lily is originally from Sweden and is pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts from the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles. We checked in with her to hear about how her studies are going. Here’s what she had to say.
How are your studies going? What has been most exciting and what are you looking forward to?
It’s going well! AFI is a very fast-paced workplace, with productions back to back, overnight rewrites of scripts and a lot of great guest speakers. So far one of the most invaluable lessons I’ve learned is understanding the complexity of the ecosystem that a movie set represents. Whatever is on the page of the script impacts every other department of the film set — production design, costumes, acting, directing, location permits, budget, and so forth. Every craft impacts the next, so learning how to anticipate everyone else’s needs while holding down your own fort is crucial. It’s tricky but I also love a great challenge!
What do you hope to do after your studies?
My immediate plan after graduating is co-producing an LGBTQ+ short film I co-wrote with my friend and writing partner. Some of our friends from AFI are joining us in the production, so it will be a workaholic couple of months that will hopefully create a portfolio piece we feel reflects our collective voices as artists. My plan after that is to start pitching a feature script I’ve been co-writing, as well as a pilot I’m currently working on in one of my workshop classes. Ultimately I would love to work in TV rooms and produce features!
Tell us more about your experience as a Thanks To Scandinavia scholar. How has it impacted you?
It has been such a beautiful honor! I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who made that possible. Being invited to New York City last fall for the New Scholar Weekend was incredibly fun as well – I had a great time meeting everyone!
What do you enjoy outside of your studies?
Dance classes! I don’t take them very frequently anymore due to my workload, but I never say no to putting on a pair of good heels whenever the possibility presents itself. There’s a great studio near me and the instructors are really empowering. Sometimes we all need a good break from reality!
Anything else you’d like to share?
Just my gratitude – I appreciate every person who helped me get this opportunity!