Irshad Ashraf
Irshad Ashraf is a British documentary film maker with a reputation for making stylish, visually innovative films.
Born in York, Yorkshire, Irshad was brought up in Manchester, England. After studying film theory in London in the mid 1990s, Irshad moved to Tokyo to teach English whilst finding time to make short films and take photographs.
His work includes a Channel 4 documentary about American film director Richard Linklater, a Channel 4 film about collectors of contemporary art in New York, both of which he shot himself, and a documentary about urban communities in Britain competing for the National Britain in Bloom awards. Irshad has also worked with the rock band Elbow, directing a documentary about their tour of Cuba.
As a producer he has made Bollywood for Beginners for Channel 4 and developed The Islamic History of Europe for the BBC.
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
Director's Debut: Stephen Tompkinson's Story The British TV star directs a BBC drama
Why Do People Buy Art? - Film about New York Art Collectors. UK Channel 4
elbow:cuba gigs - Film about the British rock band Elbow touring Cuba.
St. Rick of Austin - Film about American Film Director Richard Linklater. UK Channel 4
Desi DNA - Arts and Culture Series. BBC
An Islamic History of Europe with Rageh Omaar, feature length documentary for BBC 4
Taxi Nights - Observational Documentary series about cab drivers in Manchester, England. UK ITV
Bollywood for Beginners - Documentary about mainstream Indian Cinema. UK Channel 4
The Holiday Show - BBC Travel Series.
External links
- The Saatchi Gallery Irshad's photographic work