Afia Nathaniel


Afia Serena Nathaniel is an independent Pakistani filmmaker who works primarily as a writer, director, producer and editor. She is a graduate of the Film Division at the Columbia University School of the Arts.

Early life

Afia Nathaniel was born in Quetta, Pakistan. She is the eldest of three girls. Her father was in the Armed Forces and her mother a professor of English. Afia was brought up and educated in Lahore.

Education

Afia did her Senior Cambridge from the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Lahore. She then attended Kinnaird College from 1991 to 1994, graduating with a BSc degree. She majored in Mathematics with a minor in Physics. In college, Afia participated actively in debating forums, poetry competitions and dramatics. She was elected the President of Science Club by the students at Kinnaird. Afia was awarded the prestigious Mangat Rai Gold Medal in 1994 in recognition of her outstanding academic record and extracurricular achievements.
In August 1994, Afia joined Lahore University of Management Sciences to pursue a BSc in Computer Science. She graduated from LUMS in 1997.
In 2001, Columbia University offered Afia Nathaniel a two-year Dean's fellowship enabling her to join their MFA Film programme. Afia won several accolades for her short films which spurred the growth of New Wave of Pakistani independent cinema.

Early career

In the absence of any film schools in Pakistan, Afia Nathaniel, joined Publicis Pakistan and began a career in advertising soon after graduating from LUMS. She was quickly promoted to head the Creative Department at Publicis Pakistan.
In 1999, Afia left Pakistan to work with the World YWCA, an international women's non-profit organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland. She attended the UN Commission on Human Rights from 1999 to 2001 and worked with women in over 100 countries in the areas of peace, justice, health, human rights and environment. Afia was appointed as the Communications Manager for the endowment campaign of the World YWCA.

Film career

In 2008, Afia founded Zambeel Films, a film production company in Pakistan, specialising in producing local independent films for a global audience. Afia is a member of Film Fatales independent women filmmakers.
  • Dukhtar

    Don’t Be Late, Myra (2024)

Afia wrote and directed the short film Don’t Be Late, Myra, inspired by experiences from her childhood in Lahore. Shot on location in the city, the film explores themes of fear and social pressures faced by young girls. It screened internationally, winning several festival awards, and qualified for consideration at the 98th Academy Awards.

Personal life

Afia is currently based in New York City. She teaches in the visual arts department at Princeton University. She lives with her husband and daughter.

Awards

Film Awards/Honours/Grants
Academic Awards/Fellowships/Grants
  • 2004-6 World Studio Foundation Fellow
  • 2003-4 AAUW International Fellow
  • 2003-4 MMMF Fellow, World Bank
  • 2003-4 WIL Fellow, International House, New York
  • 2001-3 Dean's Fellow, School of Arts, Columbia University, New York
  • 1994 Mangat Rai Gold Medal, Kinnaird College, Lahore, Pakistan

    Film festivals

  • Nadah – Director, Producer, Editor
  • International Film Festival Rotterdam, 2003
  • Reel-World Film Festival, Toronto, 2003
  • Clermont-Ferrand Film Market 2003
  • 19th VC FilmFest, Los Angeles, 2003
  • 9th International Film Festival Dortmund, Germany 2003
  • Anthology Film Archive, New York, 2003
  • Commonwealth International Film Festival 2003
  • 1st Asian Pacific Short-Film Festival 2003 Barcelona
  • 9th Asian Film Festival, 2003, Lyon
  • 3rd KaraFilmFestival, 2003, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Cinemasia, 2004, Netherlands
  • Mateela Film Festival, 2004, Lahore, Pakistan
– Writer, director, producer, editor, Executive Producer
– Writer, director, producer, editor, Executive Producer
– Writer