Shahnawaz Zali is enthusiastic about life in general and filmmaking in particular. His tryst with films began at the age of 13 when he was cast in a Hollywood movie that was being filmed in Pakistan. That experience had him wondering about how it would feel to be behind the camera — calling the shots. 
Armed with a low-resolution video camera he then owned, Shahnawaz soon began filming subjects that caught his attention. By the time he was 14, Shahnawaz had made a short film, with his cousins playing all the characters and with this, his journey into the world of filmmaking began. 
Making commercials is another area of interest for the young man. Today, he has seven short films and five commercials to his credit; he has already won eight awards for his films, some local and some international awards. Shahnawaz’s film titled 100 steps has earned a nomination for nothing less than the Oscars (for Student Academy Awards) itself. He fervently hopes to win since securing the award would not just be a great achievement for him personally, but that would mean a greater purpose — fetch the first such Oscar for Pakistan. 
Visual Effects specialist and artist Mir Zafar Ali, once; and documentary filmmaker and journalist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, twice, have grabbed the gong before.


Tell us something about yourself
My name is Shahnawaz Zali, and I’m from Pakistan. I just graduated from Northwestern University in Qatar a couple of months ago, where I majored in Communication with a certificate in Public Relations. I’m passionate about filmmaking, marketing and advertising. I have personally made three films (that I basically own), and I’ve worked on around seven in various capacities — as director of photography or editor/colour corrector etc. Some of my films have gone on to win selection in film festivals, and awards both locally and globally. 


What got you interested in filmmaking?
My love for filmmaking started at thirteen, when I was asked to portray the childhood character of the lead actor in a film — basically replaying his past; it was for a film being shot in Lahore, Pakistan. At that point, I remember wondering how it would feel to be behind the camera so I decided to pursue that idea. I actually remember going around with my low-resolution digital camera filming the world around me and by the age of 14, I had made a short film in which I got all my cousins to act. That little passion soon led me down this professional path. 
What kind of movies do you make? 
My films are generally based on true stories or on an important social issue. I want to make films, which create and initiate dialogue among the viewers. I wrote and directed a film last year entitled 100 Steps, which addresses a view on how suicide bombers are made. I had always been curious as to why no-one really pays attention to how suicide bombers are made and I wanted to create a film where we understand, learn and watch one view of how and why this might be, and in the end I want viewers to understand a perspective that they had never paid attention to. 


Which one is your favourite so far and why?
It’s 100 Steps, because it was the first time I’d received a grant from my university to make a film and it came with a lot of pressure, as expectations were really high — due to the success of my previous film Mohammad. But that’s what made it fun and it has become my favourite. It was also the most challenging film as we ran into a lot of logistical problems, such as locations and shooting permits required in Qatar. But seeing the end product on the big screen, also offers the most satisfying experience. Watching audience applauding something you’ve made from scratch, and discussing it, motivates me to make more films.


Where do you draw your inspirations from?
My first inspiration came from my late aunt, who passed away two years ago. She was the one who got me a role in the film I had acted in, at the age of thirteen. She was also acting in it and that was the day that I stepped into the world of films; then I went on to study and make them myself. I’m also a very big fan of Christopher Nolan and his films, I aspire to become like him in the future. 
You have made quite an inroad with commercials as well… 
I grew up in an environment where most of my family members were into business. I always had a business mind and wanted to pursue it, until I saw the big cameras the first time. Soon I was thinking of combining the two! I went on to study marketing, as I wanted to incorporate films with marketing and advertising, and the best way to do that is to make creative commercials. 
I have made five commercials so far, mostly in Qatar. I’m working on directing commercials globally now, beginning with the United States and Pakistan. 


How do you see your future with movie making/ commercials?
I see myself pursuing filmmaking professionally, in the form of directing and shooting commercials, short films, TV series or feature length films. My dream is to win an Oscar, and I hope I won’t stop until I get one. 


Of all your achievements, which one do you consider most important?
I think the most important achievement was getting my first award, the ‘Qatar Media Awards in 2014’ from my own Northwestern University. It was a film called Mohammad that I co-directed with a friend, Syed Owais Ali. It won the best cinematography and best film award. It was significant because we were the underdogs and nobody expected us to make a film that was festival worthy — not even Syed and me. It was the first opportunity that we got to make a film independently and we were scared. But it won awards and nominations and official selections in film festivals abroad including places like Chicago, Washington DC and Abu Dhabi. 


Now that you have graduated, what next? 
I plan to work for a few years in marketing, advertising and films. I wish to direct and write commercials, as well as work towards getting the experience required for feature films before I direct my own. 


What has been your greatest personal challenge so far? 
Believing in myself that I can make great films. Even after the awards, I’ve doubted my abilities. 


Share with us your most motivating experience
It was seeing the smile on my parents’ face when my film won two awards at our university’s media awards. My family has supported me throughout and those smiles have pushed me to achieve more and more. 


Who is your hero?
That certainly is my mother. She has supported me with everything I’ve worked on or hoped for. There were times when I had fallen with grades in high school, but she still motivated me, supported me and helped pick myself back up again. So I owe my abilities, skills and success to her. 


What inspires you? 
Watching thought-provoking films on real-life issues; it gives me more ideas to make content that can one day change the world for the better.


What’s been your greatest disappointment?  
Not having a very active film culture in Pakistan or a film programme that supports young filmmakers to make more films. I’m studying film, and wondering whether there is a future in Pakistan.  But things are starting to shape up and I am excited about that.  


Tell us your dream 
My dream is to win an Oscar. It has to be on that stage, and I want to see the smile on my mother’s face at that moment. Then, I can tell my mother that I’ve finally made it. My film, 100 Steps qualified for the Student Academy Awards at the Oscars. Now I’m waiting to hear whether it gets nominated for an award. If it does, that will be my first step towards completing my dream. 


Lessons learnt from life: 
Make mistakes. Make lots of them, because that’s when you really learn!