About
We’re an independent documentary series about soulful places and the people who shape them.
We show real spaces — never staged — with all the texture, memory, and history they carry. We like to think of our films as visual poems, capturing the beauty and intimacy of everyday life. In a noisy world, NOSTALGIA offers a quiet place to pause, notice, and feel.
Who we are
We’re Lena and Ilya, producer and filmmaker.
We live by the sea in Leith, the old port district of Edinburgh. Once its own town, in many ways it still feels like one.
We’ve spent 19 years living and creating together.
Today, we make films about real people and the spaces that hold their stories.
Why we started NOSTALGIA
Our very first film was about a blacksmith in Edinburgh.
His flat was small but full of treasures: mango boxes stacked in the corner, Sanskrit from a children’s alphabet book painted on the wall, a sky-blue ceiling. A purple balloon dog from a charity shop. Dozens of metal fish he had forged himself, hanging from the shelves as if swimming through the room.
He told us:
“People think they need big houses. But I’d just fill it with more stuff. This one’s the right size for me.”
We loved that.
And in many ways it set the tone for everything that followed.
We believe everyone has a story to tell, and that telling and listening can make us feel less alone.
Our films are our way of connecting with people and creating a sense of belonging.
What’s different about our films
Most home tours talk about square footage, renovations, or the cost of paint.
We care about something else.
the feeling of life.
How someone arranges their shelves. What they choose to keep in sight, and what they hide. The personality of a room.
We don’t rush and we don’t chase trends. Our films take their time, noticing the details and listening to the stories that often get overlooked.
Because places aren’t backdrops; they’re lived-in worlds, shaped by memory, care, and everyday rituals.
That’s what we try to capture.
And if you’re here, maybe it’s what you’re looking for too — a chance to slow down, notice, and feel a little more connected.
We are just two people making these films, and we want to keep our storytelling slow, independent, and focused on what truly matters.
We can only do this with your help. If you’d like to support our production directly, join us as a Patron.
Partnerships & Commissions
We are entirely self-funded and selective about the projects we take on. Rather than standard advertising, we partner with design-forward brands, architects, and makers who share our reverence for slow spaces, craftsmanship, and living architecture.
If you have a space or a story that you think aligns with the visual language of NOSTALGIA, we’d love to hear from you.
For brand partnerships, film commissions, or to request our media kit, get in touch at studio [at] getnostalgia [dot] com