Happy 48th Birthday, Asif Kapadia! Born today in 1978, this British writer, producer and director was brought to recognition with his graduation short from the Royal College of Art.
This was his twenty-four-minute 1997 British short film 'The Sheep Thief' (aka: 'Sheep's Feast').
This was his twenty-four-minute 1997 British short film 'The Sheep Thief' (aka: 'Sheep's Feast').
The film tells of Tashan (Abdul Rehman), a young street kid caught while stealing a sheep. He is later branded on his forehead for stealing and left for dead.
Waking, he covers the brand with a headband and embarks on a journey throughout rural India. On a backwoods dirt road he meets Safia (Kokila Mahendra), helps her, and eventually becomes an accepted member of her family.
The story idea for the short was itself based upon a Bible story told by a teacher to Kapadia when he was seven years old about a thief who became a saint.
Understanding that his concept would not work as well if shot in the United Kingdom, he raised funds and traveled to Rajasthan, India. This was where he worked with film students from the Indian Film School, in Pune and cast and shot with local talent.
The following year, 'The Sheep Thief' was the winner of the 2nd Prize Cinéfondation for Short Film at the 51st Cannes Film Festival in May 1998.
Kapadia is also known for his directorial debut. This was the British/French/German/Indian/American 2001 adventure/drama film 'The Warrior'.
Set in ancient India, a warlord's warrior is sent to massacre a village behind in their taxes suffers a crisis of conscience and, laying down his sword, sets off to the Himalayas in search of peace.
The vengeful warlord sends enforcers on the trail of his renegade warrior and he must once again face violence.
Two years later, 'The Warrior' won two BAFTA Awards. This was for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer and also for Best British Film. The ceremony occurred at the 56th British Academy Film Awards in late February 2003.
Seven years later, Kapadia directed the film of which he is best known. This was the 2010 British/French/American sports/documentary film 'Senna'.
The film tells of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, and how he becomes a three-time Formula One racing champion and Brazil's national hero. Unfortunately, this is all before his untimely death at the age of 34.
The following year, 'Senna' received the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary. This occurred at the 33rd Sundance Film Festival in January 2011.
One year later, 'Senna won two BAFTA Awards. This included Best Editing and Best Documentary. This occurred at the 65th British Academy Film Awards in February 2012.
Three years later, Kapadia directed a film of which he is also known. This was the 2015 British biographical musical/documentary film 'Amy'.
The film shows archival footage and personal testimonials, of which present an intimate portrait of the life and career of English singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse (F*** Me Pumps, Love Is A Losing Game).
Unfortunately, this was all before her unfortunate death due to alcohol intoxication at the age of 27.
Nonetheless,'Amy' went on the break the UK box office record for the highest opening weekend of a British documentary film. This even went so far as to surpass 'Senna'.
Three days after its release, 'Amy' had grossed £519,000 ($647,919) from being featured in one hundred and thirty-three cinemas.
On a budget of $3.4 million, the film grossed $23.7 million overall.
Unfortunately, this was all before her unfortunate death due to alcohol intoxication at the age of 27.
Nonetheless,'Amy' went on the break the UK box office record for the highest opening weekend of a British documentary film. This even went so far as to surpass 'Senna'.
Three days after its release, 'Amy' had grossed £519,000 ($647,919) from being featured in one hundred and thirty-three cinemas.
On a budget of $3.4 million, the film grossed $23.7 million overall.
Four years later, Kapadia directed the 2019 British sports/documentary film 'Diego Maradona'.
The film takes a look at the career of celebrated Argentine football manage and now-retired professional footballer Diego Armando Maradona.
On July 5, 1984, Maradona arrived in Naples, Campania, Italy for a world-record fee. The world's most celebrated football icon and the most passionate but dangerous city in Europe were a perfect match for each other.
Following on from 'Senna' and 'Amy', Kapadia states, "Maradona is the third part of a trilogy about child geniuses and fame.
"He added, "I was fascinated by his journey, wherever he went there were moments of incredible brilliance and drama. He was a leader, taking his teams to the very top, but also many lows in his career. He was always the little guy fighting against the system... and he was willing to do anything, to use all of his cunning and intelligence to win."
According to Kapadia's personal life, he has been married to British film director Victoria Harwood since 2006. She had designed her husband's student film 'The Sheep Thief'.
Kapadia has been active from 1997–present.
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