Hot Shots 2025: Celia Qu

Before she found her passion as an editor, Celia Qu worked as a corporate videographer, a digital imaging technician and a camera operator, with indies such as Nutopia, Silverback Films and Plimsoll.

Joining Five Mile Films as an edit assistant for series six of C4’s The Dog House, she went on to work on the BBC’s Lucan and rose to junior editor after honing her skills on the Screenskills Unscripted Junior Editing placement scheme.

Qu then took ownership of The Dog House’s YouTube channel, which launched six months ago with more than 50 short films she cut from full episodes, balancing dog and human narratives. Through savvy thumbnails and subscriber callouts, the videos had 20,000 views shortly after launch, with some reaching around 2 million via Instagram and TikTok.

Five Mile head of production Emily Assael says Qu’s editorial instincts set her apart. “She’s pulled master interviews and cut dog pod scenes for broadcast with minimal guidance, earning praise for her wit and pacing,” she says.

“Her fine-cutting skills, refined through daily feedback, now deliver near-flawless edits, which is testament to her precision and ability to absorb notes.”

Managing director Nick Mirsky further attests: “Celia cuts with the care, professionalism and feeling that you would want from any great editor. Having learned her craft from some of the best editors we work with, she has excelled – and is on her way to becoming a full editor.”