Jameel Khaja

About

Born in the USA to an East Indian father and an Anglo-American mother, Jameel Khaja is a filmmaker living in New York City.  Most recently, he is the writer, co-producer and co-editor of A Passage to Ottawa, an independent feature film based in part on his family's immigrant experience.  Described by critics as an East/West success in the spirit of Truffaut and Kieslowski, the film was released in Canada theatrically and on cable television after winning a Special Jury Mention at the Berlin Film Festival (kinderfilm section); the Best Feature Film prize at the Austin Film Festival (awarded to the writer); the Best First Feature prize at Cinefest Canada; and the Best Film prize at the Leeds International Film Festival for Young People.  It is available on DVD through Séville Pictures distribution.

Previously, Jameel has written and/or directed several short student films while completing his M.F.A. degree in Film from Columbia University's School of the Arts.  He has also produced and directed numerous jazz music videos for MCA Records and Warner Bros., and was the producer and director of “Live at JAMZ”, a live broadcast jazz concert series program for Star TV Asia, which was shot entirely on location in Jakarta, Indonesia.