Afia Nathaniel

Pakistani-American filmmaker Afia debuted with DUKHTAR to a rousing reception at Toronto becoming Pakistan’s Official Submission for Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards®. The award-winning film played to critical acclaim in over 20 countries to rave reviews and became the Critics’ Pick (Village Voice) + the People Magazine’s Pick of the Week. Indiewire labelled DUKHTAR as “groundbreaking”, New York Times “exquisite” + LA Times billed it as a “gorgeous, suspenseful cinematic achievement”. Raised between Lahore and air force bases, Afia grew up with a deep love for fighter jet planes, long road trips and discovering worlds hiding in plain sight. She moves seamlessly between Film and TV worlds crafting nuanced female South Asian characters with epic journeys that feel intimate and urgent, exploring pressing social justice issues of our times which a critic lauded as “a stunning, emotive work that takes to task oppressive patriarchy”. Afia holds an MFA in Film Directing from Columbia University, graduating as the Dean’s Fellow and the Ezra Litwak Distinction in Screenwriting. She is an alumnus of Gotham, Tribeca Film Institute, Film Independent and Berlin Talent Project Market. Her work has received support from HBO, Netflix, National Geographic, Cinereach, WIF, NYFA, IFFR, SØRFOND, NYSCA and HFPA. Afia has directed episodes of CHICAGO MED and is in development with several projects. More info on her website: https://afianathaniel.me/