Ishtiyak Ahmad Zihad (24), a young filmmaker from Bangladesh, recently completed his studies in Film and Media Studies at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University. He began his creative journey with the experimental short film "God Gift" in 2019. He has explored various narratives in short films, including "Chaya Moricher Bone" (2021), a one-take short inspired by Bangladesh's liberation war. Ishtiyak has directed several independent shorts that have gained recognition at film festivals worldwide. His film "Run Away" particularly stood out, earning six awards at festivals in Bangladesh, India, the USA, and England, with the UK Film Review praising it as "beautifully tragic." Ishtiyak recently completed his first feature-length film, titled “The Blind Girl and An Elephant” (2025).

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