Babar Ahmed (director)

Babar Ahmed is a Pakistani-American film director and writer based in America.[1][2][3]

Personal life

Ahmed is a graduate of University of Cambridge and University College London, and has taken film courses at New York University and New York Film Academy, where he was inspired to pursue filmmaking.[4] Ahmed traces his family lineage to the Swat District in Pakistan.[5]

Career

Ahmed has produced videos for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank on topics such as global aging and urban development.[6][7][8]

Genius was Ahmed's debut film and was released direct to video in America.[9]

His second film Royal Kill, also known as Ninja's Creed was released theatrically in 2009 and featured supporting performances by Eric Roberts and Pat Morita.[10]

Ahmed wrote and directed the 2014 movie Amka and the Three Golden Rules.[11] The film received positive reviews, particularly for the performances of the lead actors.[12]

Ahmed is the writer and director on Tikkun Olam (2021), a short narrative film about the encounter of an eight year old boy and a homeless veteran in Washington, D.C. The film premiered at the 19th Garden State Film Festival.[13] Michael Sullivan for the Daily Times said, "Every beat of the story feels authentic, avoiding any hint of melodrama. Pure visual storytelling heightens the emotional engagement and escalating tension, with barely three or four lines of dialogue in the entire film."[13]

Ahmed’s screenplay Lost in DC was a finalist in 2021 at the 52nd Nashville Film Festival.[14][15]

Filmography

References

  1. ^ "'Pakistani-American delivers powerful short film'". The Daily Times. 27 January 2021.
  2. ^ ""Tikkun Olam" – a Pakistani- American director's dream bears fruit". Al-Bilad. 13 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Amka and The Three Golden Rules". wcbe.org. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  4. ^ "Seniors World Chronicle: WORLD: Babar Ahmed On Challenges of Global Aging". www.seniorsworldchronicle.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  5. ^ Martin, Frankie; Fellow (2009-05-18). "Watching Royal Kill with America's Only Muslim Director". HuffPost. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  6. ^ Kernis, Jay (15 June 2011). "Babar Ahmed: Challenges of global aging". CNN. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Video Highlights Innovative Cities Global Dialogue". World Bank Institute. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Interview With Director Babar Ahmed". Student Resources. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  9. ^ "COMMENTARY: 'Genius'". Religion News Service. 2003-01-01. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  10. ^ Zak, Dan (10 April 2009). "Movie Review: 'Royal Kill'". The Washington Post.
  11. ^ "Babar Ahmed on "Amka and the Three Golden Rules" « Across the Durand". Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  12. ^ DeMarco, Laura (March 27, 2014). "Cleveland International Film Festival 2014: 'Amka and the Three Golden Rules' an inspiring family film from Mongolia (Review)". cleveland.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  13. ^ a b Sullivan, Michael (27 January 2021). "'Pakistani-American delivers powerful short film'". The Daily Times.
  14. ^ "2021 NashFilm Screenplay Competition Finalists". Nashville Film Festival. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  15. ^ Bailey-Wickins, Laura (2021-08-11). "NYFA Alum Bob Ahmed's 'Tikkun Olam' Tackles Homelessness with Humanity in Award-Winning Short". New York Film Academy Blog. Retrieved 2021-10-12.