Irshad Ashraf
Irshad Ashraf is a British documentary film maker with a reputation for making stylish, visually innovative documentary films about history, art and politics.
After studying film theory in London in the mid 1990s, Irshad moved to Tokyo to teach English while finding time to make short films and take photographs.
The BBC film network quotes Irshad as saying "My first film happened when I moved to Tokyo for a couple of years in 1997 to teach English. The insidious traingrind of Ridley Scott's grey drizzled distopia encroached deep inside my head, nag nag nagging away. I realised the power of dreams and, using a friend's camcorder and VCR for editing, made a film about the sensory avalanche that is Tokyo."
Influenced by the work of Terence Malick and Alan Resnais, Irshad's films offset journalistic content with esoteric visual language as reflected in the critically acclaimed ITV documentary The Muslim Jesus narrated by Melvyn Bragg which scored eery images of urban London lansdscapes with haunting Arabic recitation.
Irshad's work with Melvyn Bragg has included directing The South Bank Show. His films about Peter Kosminsky and Elbow aired in 2009 to critical acclaim.
Irshad's past work includes a Channel 4 documentary about American film director Richard Linklater, a Channel 4 film about collectors of contemporary art in New York, a BBC documentary about Pakistan's entertainment industry and an independent film about rock band Elbow's tour of Cuba in 2004.
Irshad has also featured as an "on camera" director in documentaries. The 2008 BBC 2 film The Funny Thing About Ramadan saw Irshad easing comedienne Ayesha Hazarika into the month of Ramadan to comic effect.
Irshad cut his directing teeth in the late 90s making short films for BBC and ITV. He pioneered the "psychic detective" style of Derek Acorah making over 25 shorts with the controversial psychic before going on to make shorts for the BBC flagship travel show Holiday.
As a producer he has made Bollywood for Beginners for Channel 4 and developed The Islamic History of Europe for the BBC.
Irshad's photographs display the visual concerns of his documentary films with surreal renderings of urban and industrial environments.
Irshad's work for the RTS-award-winning arts and culture series Desi DNA shows innovative use of stills and visual imagery. His documentary films are marked by a natural cinematic beauty and great pathos which are gaining him a reputation as a thoughtful and talented film maker.
Selected Credits
The South Bank Show Elbow Profile of the cult alternative rock band.
The South Bank Show Peter Kosminsky
The Muslim Jesus ITV The lives of Jesus and Mary as narrated in The Quran
Karachi Uncovered BBC Scottish Actor Atta Yaqub investigates Pakistan's media boom
St. Richard of Austin - CHANNEL 4 Film about American Film Director Richard Linklater. UK Channel 4
Why Do People Buy Art? - Channel 4 Film about New York Art Collectors. UK Channel 4
Director's Debut: Stephen Tompkinson's Story BBC The British TV star directs a BBC drama
elbow:cuba gigs - Film about the British rock band Elbow touring Cuba.
Desi DNA - Arts and Culture Series. BBC
An Islamic History of Europe with Rageh Omaar, feature length documentary for BBC 4
How to Dump Your Mates CHANNEL 4 Teenagers improve their social circle with the aid of a top psychologist
Taxi Nights - ITV Observational Documentary series about cab drivers in Manchester, England. UK ITV
Bollywood for Beginners - CHANNEL 4 Documentary about mainstream Indian Cinema.
The Holiday Show - BBC Travel Series.