Kanza Zia
کنزا ضیا
NationalityPakistani
EducationUniversity of Southern Queensland (BBA), Master in Project Management, MSc Mass Comm.
Occupation(s)Film Director, Film Producer, Screenwriter
Years active2015–present
Known forGumm (film), The Window, Poppay Ki Wedding
SpouseAmmar Lasani
Awardssee below
Websitehttps://starstruckfilms.org

Kanza Zia (birth name/ Arabic: کنزا ضیا) is a Pakistani film director, producer, and screenwriter. She is known for social subject matters in storytelling. Her debut directorial movie Gumm (film) was released theatrically in Pakistan in 2019, which won several nominations and awards in international film festivals...[1][2][3][4][5][6] Her next feature The Window (2024) was a collaboration between Hollywood production house, Three Feather Pictures, and her production house, Starstruck Films,[7] which she co-produced, co-wrote and co-directed with her partner, Ammar Lasani.[8][9][10][11][12] Screenplay of this film won an award in Festigious International Film Festival. On 10th May 2024, her film Poppay Ki Wedding (2024) was released in cinemas worldwide, receiving praise from both critics and audiences.[13][14] [15] [16]

Early Life and Education

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Kanza Zia is half Pakistani and half Saudi. Her father, Maj (R) Zia Ud Din Ahmed, is a Pakistani retired army officer and a business man in Saudi Arabia, and her mother, Fozia Muhammad Shah, is a Saudi business woman. Kanza is the eldest daughter, and has two younger sisters, Mehak Zia, and Ramsha Zia. She lived in Saudi Arabia before relocating Pakistan, where she married her filmmaker partner, Ammar Lasani, in 2014. The couple has a son together.

Kanza holds Master degrees in Mass Communication (MSc Mass Com) and Project Management (MPM). She did her BBA from University of Southern Queensland.[17]

Career

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Kanza began her career in Television advertisement and television show productions. As she progressed, she founded her own production company, Starstruck films. She has produced, directed and written three feature films under the banner of Starstruck Films: Gumm (film), The Window (2024), and Poppay Ki Wedding (2024).

Filmography

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Year Film Producer Director Writer Notes
2019 Gumm Yes Yes Yes Also Cinematographer and Editor
2024 The Window Yes Yes Yes
2024 Poppay Ki Wedding Yes Yes Yes

Music Videos

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Year Song Artist Notes
2023 Queens of Green Eva B Video Executive Producer and Creative Concept
2020 Maadar Alamdar Khan Video Producer and Director

Accolades

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List of awards and nominations
Film Festival Film Category Recipient(s) Result
AAB Film Festival (AIFF) Gumm Official Selection Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Selected
CKF International Film Festival Gumm Official Selection Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Selected
Festigious International Film Festival Gumm Official Selection Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Selected
Lake View International Film Festival Gumm Best Editor Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Won
Lake View International Film Festival Gumm Best Screenwriter Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Won
London City International Film Festival (LCIFF) Gumm Best Director Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Won
London City International Film Festival (LCIFF) Gumm Best Screenplay Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Won
Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival Gumm Official Selection Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Selected
Madrid Asia International Film Festival Gumm Best Screenplay Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Won
Madrid Asia International Film Festival Gumm Best Actor Sami Khan Won
Madrid Asia International Film Festival Gumm Best Actress Shameen Khan Nominated
Madrid Asia International Film Festival Gumm Best Director Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani Nominated
Creation International Film Festival Gumm Best Actor Sami Khan Won

References

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  1. ^ "Pakistani feature film selected for screening at Aab, CKF film festivals". www.thenews.com.pk.
  2. ^ Shabbir, Buraq. "Pakistani feature film Gumm makes it big at international festivals". www.thenews.com.pk.
  3. ^ "April 2018 Selections". CKF International Film Festival. April 29, 2018.
  4. ^ "Gumm bags two awards at the Madrid International Film Festival". www.thenews.com.pk.
  5. ^ Team, O. Y. (July 31, 2018). "Sami Khan's Gumm wins big at the Madrid Asia International Film Festival".
  6. ^ Sheikh, Bakhtawar (June 2, 2018). "Sami Khan's Gumm Scores Big At Creation International Film Festival".
  7. ^ "Starstruck Films - Renowned Film Production Company".
  8. ^ "Ammar Lasani and Kanza Zia back with English project". gulfnews.com. August 5, 2019.
  9. ^ Shirazi, Maria. "Ammar Lasani and Kanza Zia gear up for their second film, The Window". www.thenews.com.pk.
  10. ^ "Starstruck Films Announces Principal Cast Of Upcoming Hollywood Feature Film The Window". NayaDaur. April 7, 2020.
  11. ^ Shirazi, Maria. "Director Ammar Lasani talks about his second film, The Window". www.thenews.com.pk.
  12. ^ Shirazi, Maria. "It's a wrap for The Window, confirms director Ammar Lasani". www.thenews.com.pk.
  13. ^ "REVIVAL OF CINEMA: Poppay ki Wedding: Entertainment package". www.thenews.com.pk.
  14. ^ Abbas, Umair (May 28, 2024). "A fresh take on arranged marriage; 'Poppay Ki Wedding' delivers humor with heart - The Current Pk A fresh take on arranged marriage; 'Poppay Ki Wedding' delivers humor with heart". The Current Pk.
  15. ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461601/arranged-marriage-chaos-poppay-ki-wedding-trailer-compels-and-confuses
  16. ^ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/poppay_ki_wedding
  17. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanza-zia-pmp-368997a/