Akam Rezaee
Akam Rezaee is a Kurdish–American filmmaker, visual effects supervisor, digital compositor, and colorist living in Los Angeles.
Early life and education
Rezaee was born in Mahabad, Eastern Kurdistan. At 16, he began creating short films and music videos using limited technical resources, reflecting his early commitment to visual storytelling in the absence of formal film training in his region. After several years spent as a refugee in Turkey, he was granted asylum in the United States. He subsequently pursued formal training in visual effects at Gnomon — a professional, industry-focused for-profit institution located in North Hollywood that specializes in artistic and technical instruction in VFX and game arts.Career
Rezaee’s professional work includes:- Serving as digital compositor on multiple major television productions and feature films.
- Working on projects for Netflix, Apple TV+, Showtime, and Paramount.
- Handling VFX and color grading for short films and documentaries, including The Ruth Brinker Story and How Far Is Home.
- Working on productions associated with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
Podcasting
From 2021 to 2024, he hosted The Last Word with Akam, a Kurdish-language podcast featuring filmmakers, artists, and activists.Advocacy
Rezaee champions Kurdish cinema by bringing advanced techniques—like high-end VFX and color grading—to regions lacking access.Awards and recognition
- Jury member – Kurdish feature category, Duhok International Film Festival.