Shehzad Afzal is a Scottish writer, director, producer, editor, cinematographer and game designer born in Dundee (of South Asian heritage).[1][2][3][4][5] [6]
Shehzad Afzal | |
|---|---|
 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal Ribbon | |
| Born | |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Education | MA with Distinction in Screen Project Development |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation(s) | Director, screenwriter, producer, editor, cinematographer, game designer |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | Bo Kata / The Full 10 Yards / Down The Rabbit Hole / Vanille / Pendulum Drift |
He produced and directed Bo Kata[7][8][9] a documentary film which received a limited UK theatrical release in 2007.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
Life
editA former graduate of Robert Gordon University, University of Abertay, Edinburgh Napier University and Dundee College, where Shehzad studied Computer Science, Creative Writing, Screen Project Development (Screen Academy Scotland, MA with Distinction), and Management; winning the first prize award for his academic achievements and receiving the prestigious Edinburgh Napier University Class Medal.[4]
He was a finalist in the Global Digital Cities Video Game Design Competition in 2005 and 2007.[4][20]
In 2010 he was awarded the Abbey Santander Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film and Creative Media.[4]
Shehzad was selected for the Engage Programme, a European-wide talent development program in 2010, developing screen projects, traveling to Ireland, Finland, Estonia, and Scotland, undertaking workshops and masterclasses.[4]
In May 2016, Shehzad attested and became a reservist in the British Army at the age of 47, joining the Corps of Royal Engineers, passing his basic training at Army Training Centre Pirbright[21] in February 2017 aged 48, making him one of the very few people to have accomplished this feat. Retiring from the Army in 2022, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.[4]
After two films, Ravi Dreams (2003),[22] a documentary about culture and mysticism in Lahore and Transvestite Days(2004),[23] a short film giving a glimpse into the life of a Transvestite in Lahore, Pakistan; Afzal's first collaborative film, shot in Edinburgh, Scotland, 2004, was a short four-minute piece called The Full 10 Yards.[24][7][25][26]
At Screen Academy Scotland, Shehzad produced two award-winning short films, including the first collaboration on a film project between screen academies in the UK (Screen Academy Scotland & Screen Academy Wales).[27][28][29][30]
Nominee for the Satyajit Ray Film Foundation Award for Best Film Award 2007 in association with the British Council and the British Film Institute for documentary film, Bo Kata.[17]
Presented by Sean Connery, the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2009 & Skillset Trailblazer Award which celebrated emerging talent in British Cinema.[31][32][33][34][35][36]
In 2019, Shehzad developed an Android Application called Bo Kata Digital, which allowed his documentary, Bo Kata, to be available as a downloadable app available from Amazon App Store and Google Play store.[4]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Ravi Dreams[22] | Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist | Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan |
| 2004 | Transvestite Days[23] | Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist | Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan |
| 2004 | The Full 10 Yards[37] | Writer/Director/Producer/Editor | English language filmed on location in Edinburgh, Scotland |
| 2007 | Bo Kata[37] | Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist | Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan |
| 2009 | Down The Rabbit Hole[38] | Producer | Romanian language filmed on location in Bucharest, Romania |
| 2009 | Vanille[37] | Producer | French language, German language filmed on location in Paris, France |
| 2019 | Bo Kata Digital[37] | Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist | Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan |
References
edit- ^ "BBC - Film Network, Features, Shehzad Azfal: Trailblazers 2009 interview". BBC.
- ^ [EIFF Trailblazer 2009 – Shehzad Afzal edfilmfest.org.uk] Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Download PDF - Scottish Screen". yumpu.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g Filmedup Filmmaker Profile – Shehzad Afzal "filmedup.com"
- ^ "Trailblazers 2009" (PDF). 23 December 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2010.
- ^ Knegt, Peter (19 May 2009). "Katie Jarvis Among Edinburgh's "25 Trailblazers"".
- ^ a b "Download PDF - Scottish Screen". yumpu.com.
- ^ "2° Festival Internacional de Cine Documental de la Ciudad de México - 2007 - DOCSDF - DOCSMX". Issuu.
- ^ "Bo kata (Short 2007)". IMDb.
- ^ "British Council Film: Bo Kata". film-directory.britishcouncil.org.
- ^ "20 Ways To Create Cash From Your Audio Gear & Skills". www.soundonsound.com.
- ^ Film listing on list.co.uk "List.co.uk"
- ^ [Festival Focus - Bo Kata] Archived 27 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine "festivalfocus.org"
- ^ "PFF 2006". www.portobellofilmfestival.com.
- ^ "FICMTY RUSHES". ficmty.blogspot.com.
- ^ Festival Catalogue 3ER Internacional de Cine de Monterrey 2007 develop.monterreyfilmfestival.com
- ^ a b Festival Catalogue Bite the Mango Film Festival 2007 filmedup.com
- ^ "Bo Kata Digital: Amazon.co.uk: Appstore for Android". www.amazon.co.uk.
- ^ "Bo Kata – Apps on Google Play". play.google.com.
- ^ [Gold Coast City Council - Global Digital City Network Games Competition] Archived 18 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine "www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au"
- ^ https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-schools-and-colleges/atc-pirbright
- ^ a b "PFF 2003". www.portobellofilmfestival.com.
- ^ a b "PFF 2004". www.portobellofilmfestival.com.
- ^ "Download PDF - APRIL | MAY 2007 - Scottish Screen". yumpu.com.
- ^ "The Full 10 Yards (Short 2004)". IMDb.
- ^ Short film details for The Full 10 Yards "filmedup.com"
- ^ "Roughcuts". April–May 2009 – via yumpu.com.
- ^ [French Film Festival 2009 - News] Archived 3 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine "www.frenchfilmfestival.org.uk"
- ^ "RIFF riff.it".
- ^ "Film UK Guide 2009". inba.info.
- ^ "Trailblazers - Skillset". 29 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010.
- ^ "Big County film-maker's award - Perthshire Advertiser". 15 March 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012.
- ^ "EIFF Spotlights Hot New Talent Coming to Edinburgh". EdinburghGuide.com.
- ^ "Made in Scotland Film 2009 - Scottish Screen" – via yumpu.com.
- ^ "generation nets". Issuu.
- ^ "Eye For Film: EIFF and Skillset announce Trailblazers". www.eyeforfilm.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d "FilmedUp". filmedup.
- ^ "FilmedUP". FilmedUP.