Academy Award-winning director and writer Aneil Karia won his OSCAR for ‘The Long Goodbye’ – a tour de force short set to Riz Ahmed’s eponymous track. The first music video ever recognised by the Academy also claimed Best Short at the Critics’ Circle Awards.

An observer of human behaviour, Aneil’s pieces provide social commentary by amplifying day-to-day intensities. His exhilarating recent Nike Olympics campaign, starring gold medallist Qinwen Zheng, made high drama of 30 seconds.

Aneil’s debut feature ‘Surge’ (BFI/BBC Films) premiered at Sundance, where lead Ben Whishaw won the Jury’s Best Actor prize. His short ‘Work’ was BAFTA-nominated, while another ‘Beat’ screened at 50 festivals. He also previously directed the finale of ‘TOP BOY’ (Netflix) and helmed UKMVA-winner ‘Trouble’ for Kano.

Most recently, ‘HAMLET’, Aneil and Riz’s feature-length contemporary interpretation of Shakespeare’s major play, had its cinematic release at the start of the year and premiered at Telluride Film Festival 2025.