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Ashraf Ghori

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Ashraf Ghori
Ashraf Ghori in Dubai, 2010
BornMohammed Ashraf Ghori
(1973-09-17) 17 September 1973 (age 51)
Hyderabad, India
NationalityIndian
Area(s)Filmmaker, director, comic book artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Notable works
Xero Error, Antara
AwardsWorld Economic Forum – Excellence Award, 2015
Herald Global & ERTC Media – The Industry's No. 1 Award in Art, 2024
Digital Studio Awards – Best Upcoming Filmmaker, 2011
Made in UAE Awards – Distinguished Achievement Award, 2011
https://www.ashrafghori.com

Mohammed Ashraf Ghori (born 17 September 1973), is a Dubai-based Indian comic book artist, filmmaker and entrepreneur.[1][2] He is best known for creating UAE's first CGI science fiction film Xero Error [3][4][5][6] a futuristic cyborg thriller[7] which was shown at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival.[8][9] and as the artist behind UAE's acclaimed Arabic Graphic Novel Antara.[10] He is the CEO and founder of digital design agency Xpanse CGI.

Early life and professional career

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Ghori moved from Hyderabad, India to Dubai, UAE at the age of 2.[5][11] His first professional work appeared in the pages of magazines published by Khaleej Times. He was a regular illustrator for Young Times from 1989 until 2001.[12] Ghori graduated from the University of Houston, Texas in 1994.[13]

Ghori was on the judges panel for the Kuwait Arab Advertising Awards for the years 2006 and 2007.[citation needed]

In 2007, he founded digital creative agency Xpanse CGI in Dubai and started independent film-making with Xero Error in 2008.[14][15] Xero Error premiered at the 3rd Gulf Film Festival[16][17] and also played at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival and the 10th edition of Sci-Fi-London.[18] In 2010, Ghori was the Art Director for the first Indo-Emirati film 'Malal'.[19] He worked as Senior Digital Artist at Bayyinah TV from 2016 to 2017.[20][21] Ghori received the UAE Golden Visa in 2022 in recognition of his creative achievements in the country.[citation needed]

Artist

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Ghori has produced work for comic book publishers including Dark Horse Comics and IDW Publishing.[22]

San Jacinto College in Pasadena Texas had organized a Comic Art Exhibit of Ghori's works in 1993. In 1994, Ghori was a founding member of Tempest Comics in Houston, Texas, and produced a 4-issue mini series 'Tempest Comics Presents'.[12][23] He was a featured comic artist at Dallas Fantasy Fair, 1994 (Dallas, Texas).[24]

In April 2012, Ghori was a featured guest, along with Alvin Lee, Lee Townsend and Yishan Li at the first MEFCC - Middle East Film and Comic Con in Dubai, UAE, and at the Middle East's inaugural IGN Convention in July 2013.[25] In 2013 Ghori was a contributing artist for Dark Horse Comics in collaboration with writer Alex De Campi.[26]

In 2015 Ghori collaborated with Arab rapper Narcy_(rapper) to create a mixed-media project called World War Free Now which combined music, video, and comics together.[27] A limited edition comic was released as a companion piece to Narcy's album. [28] In 2018 his work on Arabic graphic novel 'Antara' received critical acclaim as 'An Experiment Worthy of Praise' citing 'the versatility and sheer genius of the artist'.[29][30][31][32]

Social media influencer

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Ghori is ranked as a prominent social media influencer in the UAE.[33][34] From 2011 to 2014, Ghori was the featured art influencer for Samsung's Note series. [35] In April 2014 Ghori was the social media ambassador for Ford Middle East's 'Stand Out' campaign for the MENA region[36] and again in 2015 to promote The Ford Mustang 2016 in the #ExperienceFord Social Media Campaign.[37] In April 2016, he was the face of Microsoft's #DoGreatThingsDXB Campaign to promote Windows 10 and launch Microsoft Surface Pro 4 in the Gulf.[38][39][40][41]

He is a frequent speaker at events related to design, film and entrepreneurship in the UAE.[42][43]

Awards

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  • Herald Global & ERTC Media – The Industry's No. 1 Award in Art, 2024[44] [45]
  • World Economic Forum – Excellence Award, 2015
  • Esquire - UAE's Most Influential Digital Pioneers Award 2014 [46]
  • Digital Studio Awards – Best up and coming filmmaker, 2011[9][47]
  • Made in UAE Awards – Distinguished Achievement Award, 2011


Ashraf Ghori at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival red carpet

Filmography

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  • 2023 Baab (Feature Film) - Concept Artist, Creature Designer
  • 2022 Desert Warrior (Feature Film) - Concept Artist
  • 2012 Djinn (Feature Film) - Concept Artist
  • 2010 Levity – Xero Error Minus1 (08:00, Digital Animated Film) - Writer, Director, Producer
  • 2010 Malal (Short Film) – Art Director, Associate Producer (Xpanse CGI)
  • 2009 City of Life (Feature Film) – Graphic Designer
  • 2006 Arabana (Short Film) – Associate Producer

References

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  1. ^ "Who Dares Wins". Gulf News. October 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  2. ^ "SME Stars of Business 2010". Cpidubai.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. ^ "'Error' in judgment: Dubai weighs CGI" Liza Foreman, AP. Published on AllBusiness.com
  4. ^ LEVITY - XERO ERROR MINUS 1. CG Record. 6 April 2010
  5. ^ a b "Ashraf Ghori interview on". Wearethemovies.com. 19 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Future of Arab Cinema – Gulf Film Festival". Gulfnews.com. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  7. ^ Adams, Gaar (May 2015). "Sci-Fi City". Slate.
  8. ^ "Ashraf Ghori on Levity: Xero-Error Minus 1". Doha Film Institute. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  9. ^ a b Digital Production Middle East Staff. "Digital Studio Awards 2011 – Winners revealed". Digitalproductionme.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  10. ^ "UAE's Kalimat to launch first Arabic graphic novel". Arabian Business. arabianbusiness.com. 5 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Ashraf Ghori featured on". Storyofmylife.com. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  12. ^ a b Muby Asger (16 December 2010). "No room for error for Ashraf Ghori". GulfNews. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  13. ^ "The Arabic 'Antarah' Comic: 'An Experiment Worthy of Praise'". Arablit. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  14. ^ "SyFy Channel UK". Syfy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Michael Netzer's official site". Michaelnetzer.com. 17 February 2009. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  16. ^ "UAE film industry is bursting with an array of talent". Gulf News. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Meet the filmmakers behind the Gulf Film Festival". Gulf News. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  18. ^ "10th SCI-FI LONDON Programme". Sci-fi-london.com. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  19. ^ "First-of-its-kind film: Casting Call, Gulf News". Gulfnews.com. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  20. ^ "World Art Dubai officially opens". www.tradearabia.com. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Arts, culture 'essential to intellectual development'". www.tradearabia.com. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  22. ^ "The Arabic 'Antarah' Comic: 'An Experiment Worthy of Praise'". Arablit.org. 6 September 2018.
  23. ^ "Tempest Comics on Mile High Comics". Milehighcomics.com. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  24. ^ "Ashraf Ghori". IMDb. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  25. ^ "Celebrities of IGN Convention". IGN Middle East. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Alex de Campi Brings "Grindhouse" To Dark Horse". CBR. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  27. ^ Adams, Gaar (May 2015). "Sci-Fi City". Slate.
  28. ^ "The Narcicyst Is a Citizen of the World". Vice. 20 May 2015.
  29. ^ "The Arabic 'Antarah' Comic: 'An Experiment Worthy of Praise'". Arablit.org. 6 September 2018.
  30. ^ "UAE's Kalimat to launch first Arabic graphic novel". Arabian Business. arabianbusiness.com. 5 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Antara, super-héros arabe, en bande dessinée". France 24 (in French). 9 October 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Antara, personnage légendaire arabe, devient un héros de bande dessinée". rts.ch (in French). 11 October 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  33. ^ Alice Haine. "Meet the Twitterati (The National)". Thenational.ae. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  34. ^ Tom Norton. "The Social Network (Esquire Middle East)". esquireme.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  35. ^ "Ashraf Ghori: Ink: The Journey of a Lifetime". creativemornings.com. 22 March 2015.
  36. ^ "An Interview with Ashraf Ghori". Ford Middle East. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  37. ^ Ford Middle East. "#ExperienceFord Campaign". Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  38. ^ Trade Arabia News Service. "Arts, culture 'essential to intellectual development'". TradeArabia.com. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  39. ^ Chris Fernando (28 April 2016). "Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Now Available in UAE (Finally!)". pcmag.com. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  40. ^ Arif Bacchus. "Microsoft Surface Pro 4 officially comes to the UAE". onmsft.com. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  41. ^ The Gulf Today. "Microsoft Surface Pro 4 now available for consumers". gulftoday.ae. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  42. ^ Hisham Wyne. "Be bold, and overcome the fear of creating (TwoFour54)". Twofour54.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  43. ^ Dawson, Rachel. "Visitors travel to a world of fantasy at Sharjah book fair". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  44. ^ "Mr. Saimik Sen Editor-in-Chief of Herald Global Felicitated Pride of UAE and Prestigious Brands of Asia at the Global Business Symposium 2024, Dubai, UAE". business.indianews.in. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  45. ^ "Mr. Saimik Sen Editor-in-Chief of Herald Global Felicitated Pride of UAE and Prestigious Brands of Asia at the Global Business Symposium 2024, Dubai, UAE". Devdiscourse.com. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  46. ^ "The Social Network". Esquire Middle East – the Region's Best Men's Magazine. Esquire.com. 15 December 2014.
  47. ^ "Digital Studio Awards 2011 – Best filmmaker of the year". Digitalproductionme.com. 9 February 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
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