The Pakistani young filmmaker Zali is from Lahore. He is a graduate of Northwestern University Qatar Campus and has won international appreciation for his films. His documentary ‘100 Steps-Sau Qadam’ was nominated as the Best film in the Narrative category for the 43rd Student Academy Awards.
The film was made in 2015, it revolves around a young boy who is dragged into suicide bombings. It won awards at the Miami International Film Festival, the Accolade Global Film Festival and Qatar Media Awards.
Zali, previously, also won the Best Film award, for his film Muhammad at the Qatar Media Awards 2014.
The judges panel included singer Yuna, CNN International correspondent Mallika Kapur, rugby player and heavyweight boxer Sonny Bill Williams and Pakistan’s two-time Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.
The Forbes’ list also featured Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, Grammy Award winning singer Lorde, singer Troye Sivan and actor Margot Robbie.
