Aftab Abbasi
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, WRITER, CAMERAMAN
Aftab Abbasi has over 10 years of experience in the field of media production. His portfolio encompasses a wide range of genres.
From stories about super achievers who overcame their less than perfect circumstances to achieve prominence, nature and environment, women empowerment, governance, law and legislature, history and religion, science, technology, education, sports and various other themes.
BACKGROUND
Scriptwriting, Post Graduate Certificate
Algonquin College, Ottawa, ON/CA 2023 – 2024
Visual Effects & Editing, Post Graduate Certificate
Fanshawe College, London, ON/CA 2022 – 2023
Documentary Campus Masterschool
Berlin/Munich, GER, Europe 2021
BA Hons, Film & TV Production
National College of Arts, Lahore, PK 2005 – 2009
CLIENTS AFTAB ABBASI WORKED FOR
| UNDP | WaterAid | DFID | USAID | UKAID | European Union | World Bank | ASF Pakistan | IRC | Oxfam | Community World Services Pakistan | Teacher Resource Center | Voice of America | Styrian Summer Art | Tourism Bad Radkersburg, Austria | Palais Media | PerMed | Islamic Relief | Government of Pakistan | Celebright | MapleCare | Xioneer Systems | Human Environment Care Film Festival | Black Box Sounds | GEO News
Serendipity – A Documentary Showreel takes you on a journey through Aftabs previous work focusing on documentary films.
The Advertisement Showreel offers a glimpse into Aftabs commercial work.
Apart from the video portfolio showcased in the portfolio section of our website, here some highlights of Aftab Abbasi’s work:
The Heart Smiles
Short Film
The Heart Smiles is a romantic comedy about grandparents acting like teenagers
who embark on an impromptu journey of self-discovery, love and companionship.
Director & Scriptwriter: Aftab Abbasi
- Winner, CinemaBriz Film Festival, 2025
- Winner, Portugal Indie Film Festival, 2025
- Finalist, Cannes World Film Festival, 2025
- Nominee, MLC Awards of Green Bay, 2025
- Honorable Mention, Monza Film Fest, 2025
- Winner the IFFSA Talent Fund Bright Lights Program 2023/24.
Vortex into the Future
Advertisement
“Vortex into the Future” alias “Back to the Future of 3Dprinting” is an advertisement for Xioneer Systems GmbH, a company focusing on 3D printing solutions.
One-Person Crew from the initial idea to final Product: Aftab Abbasi
- This advertisment was selected as a Finalist at the Global Content Awards 2022.
Twinkle - Power to Change
Short Documentary
Twinkle’s success story changed views about minorities and opened up new opportunities for women in general in Pakistan.
Director: Aftab Abbasi
- Twinkle won the Audience Award at the Night of the Short Film, Belgium and
- was Finalist at the Tehran FICTS Festival.
Manchar - Last of the Lake People
Short Documentary
Manchar is a story of a paradise lost, one of the biggest lakes in Asia. I’ts ecosystem destroyed due to the ravages of pollution.
Director: Aftab Abbasi
- Manchar won the Silver Award at Handle Climate Change Film Festival China.
- It was also an Award Winner at the International Green Film Festival Poland and was awarded
- Finalist at Short Cut India.
Sound of Wine
Social Media Advertisement
A digital campaign for Bad Radkersburg Tourism.
Camera: Aftab Abbasi
- It was awarded the Green Panther BRONZE Award 2021 in the category MOTION PICTURES, Styria, Austria.
Niaz - Zest for Life
Short Documentary
Niaz is a story of will, passion and zest for life that is truly motivational.
Director: Aftab Abbasi
- It was awarded by «LAMPA» International film festival of socially oriented short films, videos and social advertising, United Nations, Geneva.
- Niaz was selected as Jury Winner 2019 at the Music Shorts Film Festival Audience Award.
The Heart Smiles
WINNER, IFFSA Talent Fund – Bright Lights Program 2023/24
Short Film
After decades apart, a couple of married sexagenarians meet by chance and rekindle their college romance. However, during a short getaway, they come to a humorous yet poignant realization that what they thought was love might have been mere infatuation.
https://talentfund.ca
Fangs & Fasts: A Vampire Hunter's Ramadan
FINALIST, Mosquers 2023
Short Film
In a vampire-hunting office during Ramadan, a laid-back Muslim student’s world turns upside down when he encounters a Muslim vampire, leading to a blend of humor, faith and fangs in the most unlikely of workplaces.
americanmuslimproject.substack.com
Vortex into the Future
FINALIST,
Global Content Award 2022
Advertisment, Client Xioneer Systems GmbH
Vortex into the Future alias “Back to the Future of #3Dprinting” is an Advertisment for Xioneer, a 3D printing company based in Vienna, Austria.
2022 Shortlist
Forbidden Fruit
SELECTED, Documentary Campus – Masterschool 202
Feature Length Documentary
We explore the incongruous existence of pigs in a country like Pakistan by following a sow, a boar, a Christian pig hunter and a Muslim wildlife ranger in an observational style wildlife documentary. The film utilises pig as a symbol of the ‘other’, creating a tongue-in-cheek take on that age-old human affliction – Xenophobia.
https://www.documentary-campus.com
