Shehzad Afzal

Shehzad Afzal


Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal Ribbon
Born
Dundee, Scotland
NationalityScottish
EducationMA with Distinction in Screen Project Development
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter, producer, editor, cinematographer, game designer, innovator
Years active2003–present
Known forBo Kata / The Full 10 Yards / Down The Rabbit Hole / Vanille / Pendulum Drift

Shehzad Afzal is a Scottish filmmaker, writer, director, producer, editor, cinematographer, innovator, and game designer of South Asian-Pakistani heritage, born in Dundee, Scotland. His multidisciplinary career spans film, technology, game design, and sustainable practices, informed by his extensive experience in IT and military service.[1]

Education

Afzal studied at Robert Gordon University, University of Abertay, Edinburgh Napier University, and Dundee College, focusing on Computer Science, Creative Writing, Screen Project Development (Screen Academy Scotland, MA with Distinction), and Management. He was awarded the first prize for academic excellence and the Edinburgh Napier University Class Medal.[1]

Career

Afzal has worked full-time in information technology for 37 years, applying his technical expertise to his creative and innovative projects.[1]

He gained recognition for producing and directing the documentary Bo Kata (2007),[2][3] which received a limited UK theatrical release and was nominated for the Satyajit Ray Film Foundation Award for Best Film (2007, British Council and British Film Institute) and Best International Documentary at the 2° Festival Internacional de Cine Documental de la Ciudad de México (DOCSDF/DOCSMX, 2007).[4]

His early experimental films include Ravi Dreams (2003), a documentary exploring culture and mysticism in Lahore, Pakistan, and Transvestite Days (2004), a short film offering insight into the life of a transvestite in Lahore.[5][6][1]

In 2004, he wrote and directed The Full 10 Yards, a four-minute short, filmed in Edinburgh, which won Best Short Film at the 2005 Fairport Film Festival.[7][2][8][9][10]

Afzal’s game design achievements include finalist placements in the Global Digital Cities Video Game Design Competition (2005, 2007).[1][11]

At Screen Academy Scotland (2007), Afzal produced two award-winning short films (2008, 2009), including a pioneering collaboration between Screen Academy Scotland and Screen Academy Wales, the first such partnership among UK screen academies.[12][13][14]

During 2008, Shehzad served as a script consultant for South West Screen Film Agency, where he applied his screenwriting expertise to support regional film development.[1]

In 2009, he won the Edinburgh International Film Festival & Skillset Trailblazer Award, presented by Sean Connery, for his contributions to British cinema.[15][16]

In 2010, he was awarded the Abbey Santander Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film and Creative Media and selected to participate in the Engage Programme, a European talent development initiative, developing screen projects across Ireland, Finland, Estonia, and Scotland.[1]

In 2019, Afzal developed an interactive digital app for film distribution, leveraging his IT and game design expertise to create a dynamic viewing experience, aligning with trends like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Netflix’s interactive content,[17] and Netflix's broader interactive content initiatives.[18][19][1]

In 2025, he was a finalist for the Innovator of the Year award, recognizing his contributions to creative, technical, and sustainable practices.[20][21][22]

Military Service

In 2016, at age 47, Afzal joined the British Army Reserve, serving in the Corps of Royal Engineers. He completed basic training at Army Training Centre Pirbright[23] in 2017 at age 48, a notable achievement. Retiring in 2022, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.[1]

Sustainability

Since 2010, Afzal has championed sustainable filmmaking, adopting waste reduction and energy-efficient workflows in line with the Green Production Guide and British Columbia’s Reel Green.[24][25][26][27][1]

By 2025, he integrated virtual production and renewable energy solutions, adhering to the Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking.[28][29]

His work continues to push boundaries at the intersection of film and technology, combining creativity, sustainability, military strategy, and engineering methods to pioneer innovative projects.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2003 Ravi Dreams[5] Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan
2004 Transvestite Days[6] Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan
2004 The Full 10 Yards[30] Writer/Director/Producer/Editor English language filmed on location in Edinburgh, Scotland
2007 Bo Kata[30] Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan
2009 Down The Rabbit Hole[31] Producer Romanian language filmed on location in Bucharest, Romania
2009 Vanille[30] Producer French language, German language filmed on location in Paris, France
2019 Bo Kata Digital[30] Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Filmedup Filmmaker Profile – Shehzad Afzal "filmedup.com"
  2. ^ a b "Download PDF - Scottish Screen". yumpu.com.
  3. ^ "Bo kata (Short 2007)". IMDb.
  4. ^ "2° Festival Internacional de Cine Documental de la Ciudad de México - 2007 - DOCSDF - DOCSMX (p54)". Issuu.
  5. ^ a b "PFF 2003". www.portobellofilmfestival.com.
  6. ^ a b "PFF 2004". www.portobellofilmfestival.com.
  7. ^ "Download PDF - APRIL | MAY 2007 - Scottish Screen". yumpu.com.
  8. ^ "The Full 10 Yards (Short 2004)". IMDb.
  9. ^ Short film details for The Full 10 Yards "filmedup.com"
  10. ^ "Scottish Screen News, Scottish Screen, Going The Full 10 Yards (p34)". Yumpu.
  11. ^ [Gold Coast City Council - Global Digital City Network Games Competition] Archived 18 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine "www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au"
  12. ^ "Roughcuts". April–May 2009 – via yumpu.com.
  13. ^ [French Film Festival 2009 - News] Archived 3 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine "www.frenchfilmfestival.org.uk"
  14. ^ "CILECT Prize - Down the Rabbit Hole". CILECT. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Trailblazers - Skillset". 29 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010.
  16. ^ [Perthshire Advertiser 2009 - News] Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch". Wikipedia. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Netflix are planning a lot more interactive content following Black Mirror: Bandersnatch". RadioTimes. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  19. ^ "A list of interactive movies and series on Netflix". What's on Netflix. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Forces News, Veterans, Finalists announced for awards in Scottish 'Oscars of veteran employment'". ForcesNews.
  21. ^ "Finalists 2025 Scottish Forces in Business Awards, Forces In Business, Shortlist Revealed as Grand Showcase of Veterans Returns to Scotland". ExforcesInBusiness.
  22. ^ "FilmedUP News, FilmedUP, Scottish Ex-Forces Veterans Showcase Their Diverse Talents". FilmedUP.
  23. ^ https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-schools-and-colleges/atc-pirbright
  24. ^ "Green Production Guide". Producers Guild of America. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  25. ^ "Reel Green". Creative BC. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  26. ^ "The Impact of Emerging Sustainable Practices in the Film Industry". AMT Lab @ CMU. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  27. ^ Engel, L.; Buchanan, A. (2017). "Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking". Center for Media and Social Impact. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  28. ^ "Exploring Sustainable Trends in the Film Industry". MASV. 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  29. ^ "The New Green Screen: Sustainable Film Production". EcoBlvd. 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  30. ^ a b c d "FilmedUp". filmedup.
  31. ^ "FilmedUP". FilmedUP.
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