Biography
Fokiya Akhtar is an Assistant Professor in Media Production and Storytelling at the College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University, UAE. Previously, she was Senior Lecturer at the Department of Media and Communications, Manipal University Dubai.
Before entering academia, Fokiya has had vast experience in Television production as a Producer/ Director for documentary films, television series, news/ current affairs programs, game shows, educational television content production.
Her Independent documentaries have won awards at prestigious films festivals across the world. Her documentary (2019) on Irish migration during the 1847 Potato famine won awards of the best documentary, best women filmmaker, jury award, and outstanding achievement award at Tokyo Film Festival, White Unicorn International Film Festival, Spring Cine Fest Prestigious Golden Galaxy Awards, Indian Film Festival of Ireland, Wonderland International Film Festival of Australia, Indian Cine Film Festival and University Film and Video Association of professors, scholars, film and video makers. Her film on women and children in conflict won the best documentary award at Golden Gate Fiction & Documentary Festival, San Fransisco film festival, and Mumbai international film festival. Her Screenplay “Attic Boys” won best screenplay awards at World Film Carnival-Singapore, Virgin Spring Cine Festival, Madras International Festival,Golden Merlion Award, and Cult-Critic Movie Award.
Her film on differently-abled children in Dubai won official nominations at We Care Film Festival -Al Noor – Dubai, World Cinema Section nomination in 4th CMS International Children’s Film Festival - in India.
Akhtar serves as film jury of competition films at Festival of Media Arts, Broadcast Education Association, University Film, and Video Association, and Carole Fielding Grant competition the USA. She is also a member of the Women in Film Association and Liberal Arts, Humanities, and Creative Practices at Chandigarh University
Designation
Assistant Professor
Education
Terminal degree
PhD
Awarding Institution
Cardiff University Wales, UK
Research/Creative Areas
Film Studies, Visual Representation, Health education, Women, Children, Social issues, History,
Teaching Areas
Video and Audio/Film Production, Visual Storytelling, Photography, Media Law, and Ethics,
Professional links
Email:fokiya.akhtar@zu.ac.ae
