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Shehzad Afzal

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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, innovator, game designer
Years active2003–present
Known forBo Kata / The Full 10 Yards / Down The Rabbit Hole / Vanille / Pendulum Drift

Shehzad Afzal is a Scottish writer, director, producer, editor, cinematographer, innovator and game designer born in Dundee (of South Asian heritage and fluent in Punjabi_language / Urdu / Hindi).[1][2][3][4][5] [6]

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

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A 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, which went on to win Best Short Film Award in 2005, including official selection for many film festivals in the UK.[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. It was also nominated for Best International Documentary Award at the Festival Internacional de Cine de Monterrey 2007.[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]

Between 2022 and 2025, Shehzad pursued continuous learning and skill development through various courses at University of Abertay and Edinburgh Napier University, completing BSc and MBA-level modules in Cybersecurity and Innovation Management. He also earned the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Certification.

In 2023, Shehzad expanded his expertise in sound design by completing the Sound Design for Music and Games course at the Academy of Music and Sound. This further enhanced his knowledge of music scoring and composition, which he had previously applied to scoring the music for the Bo Kata trailer and social media indents.

Shehzad was selected as a finalist for the Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Innovator of the Year Award 2025, recognising his achievements in developing innovative creative narratives and efficient sustainable production methods.[37] [38] [39]

Influence and Legacy

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Shehzad’s work reflects the influence of, and adds to, a rich tradition of versatile thinkers and trailblazers. Similar to Leonardo da Vinci, who effortlessly merged artistic expression with scientific inquiry, Shehzad blends creative arts with technology and military tactics, showcasing an exceptional ability to pioneer across diverse fields. In the same vein as Nikola Tesla, a brilliant inventor and forward-thinker in electrical engineering, Shehzad’s impact extends across multiple sectors, highlighting a broad range of skills and interdisciplinary mastery.

Like Albert Einstein, renowned for his revolutionary contributions to theoretical physics, Shehzad exhibits a deep enthusiasm for tackling intricate challenges—whether through innovative creative applications of technology and new engineering methodology and practices in the arts, or in the realm of military advancements.

21st century polymaths such as Steve Jobs, celebrated for transforming technology and design, Richard Branson, whose enterprises stretch from music to aviation and space exploration, and Elon Musk, whose ambitions span renewable energy, transportation, and interplanetary travel, Shehzad seamlessly integrates his expertise across filmmaking, game design, information technology, cybersecurity, military service and sustainability, emerging as a multifaceted innovator of the modern age. His diverse and advanced skill set distinguishes him as one of the few multidisciplinary professionals in the world today.

Filmography

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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. Experimental Short Film
2004 Transvestite Days[23] Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan. Experimental Short Film
2004 The Full 10 Yards[40] Writer/Director/Producer/Editor English language filmed on location in Edinburgh, Scotland. Winner of Best Short Film Award 2005 (Fairport Film Festival, Scotland)
2007 Bo Kata[40] Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan. Nominee for the Satyajit Ray Film Foundation Award for Best Film Award 2007. Nominee for Best International Documentary Award at the Festival Internacional de Cine de Monterrey 2007
2009 Down The Rabbit Hole[40] Producer Romanian language filmed on location in Bucharest, Romania
2009 Vanille[40] Producer French language, German language filmed on location in Paris, France
2019 Bo Kata Digital[40] Director/Producer/Editor/Cinematographer/Sound Recordist Urdu language / Punjabi language with English Subtitles filmed on location in Lahore, Pakistan.

References

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  1. ^ "BBC - Film Network, Features, Shehzad Azfal: Trailblazers 2009 interview". BBC.
  2. ^ [EIFF Trailblazer 2009 – Shehzad Afzal edfilmfest.org.uk] Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Download PDF - Scottish Screen". yumpu.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Filmedup Filmmaker Profile – Shehzad Afzal "filmedup.com"
  5. ^ "Trailblazers 2009" (PDF). 23 December 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2010.
  6. ^ Knegt, Peter (19 May 2009). "Katie Jarvis Among Edinburgh's "25 Trailblazers"".
  7. ^ a b "Download PDF - Scottish Screen". yumpu.com.
  8. ^ "2° Festival Internacional de Cine Documental de la Ciudad de México - 2007 - DOCSDF - DOCSMX". Issuu.
  9. ^ "Bo kata (Short 2007)". IMDb.
  10. ^ "British Council Film: Bo Kata". film-directory.britishcouncil.org.
  11. ^ "20 Ways To Create Cash From Your Audio Gear & Skills". www.soundonsound.com.
  12. ^ Film listing on list.co.uk "List.co.uk"
  13. ^ [Festival Focus - Bo Kata] Archived 27 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine "festivalfocus.org"
  14. ^ "PFF 2006". www.portobellofilmfestival.com.
  15. ^ "FICMTY RUSHES". ficmty.blogspot.com.
  16. ^ Festival Catalogue 3ER Internacional de Cine de Monterrey 2007 develop.monterreyfilmfestival.com
  17. ^ a b Festival Catalogue Bite the Mango Film Festival 2007 filmedup.com
  18. ^ "Bo Kata Digital: Amazon.co.uk: Appstore for Android". www.amazon.co.uk.
  19. ^ "Bo Kata – Apps on Google Play". play.google.com.
  20. ^ [Gold Coast City Council - Global Digital City Network Games Competition] Archived 18 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine "www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au"
  21. ^ https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-schools-and-colleges/atc-pirbright
  22. ^ a b "PFF 2003". www.portobellofilmfestival.com.
  23. ^ a b "PFF 2004". www.portobellofilmfestival.com.
  24. ^ "Download PDF - APRIL | MAY 2007 - Scottish Screen". yumpu.com.
  25. ^ "The Full 10 Yards (Short 2004)". IMDb.
  26. ^ Short film details for The Full 10 Yards "filmedup.com"
  27. ^ "Roughcuts". April–May 2009 – via yumpu.com.
  28. ^ [French Film Festival 2009 - News] Archived 3 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine "www.frenchfilmfestival.org.uk"
  29. ^ "RIFF riff.it".
  30. ^ "Film UK Guide 2009". inba.info.
  31. ^ "Trailblazers - Skillset". 29 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010.
  32. ^ "Big County film-maker's award - Perthshire Advertiser". 15 March 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012.
  33. ^ "EIFF Spotlights Hot New Talent Coming to Edinburgh". EdinburghGuide.com.
  34. ^ "Made in Scotland Film 2009 - Scottish Screen" – via yumpu.com.
  35. ^ "generation nets". Issuu.
  36. ^ "Eye For Film: EIFF and Skillset announce Trailblazers". www.eyeforfilm.co.uk.
  37. ^ "Forces News, Veterans, Finalists announced for awards in Scottish 'Oscars of veteran employment'". ForcesNews.
  38. ^ "Finalists 2025 Scottish Forces in Business Awards, Forces In Business, Shortlist Revealed as Grand Showcase of Veterans Returns to Scotland". ExforcesInBusiness.
  39. ^ "FilmedUP News, FilmedUP, Scottish Ex-Forces Veterans Showcase Their Diverse Talents". FilmedUP.
  40. ^ a b c d e "FilmedUp". filmedup.
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