Ashraf Ghori

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 (AKA Levity Xero Error Minus 1)[3][4][5][6] which won recognition at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival.[7][8] He is the CEO and founder of digital design agency Xpanse CGI.

Ashraf Ghori
Ashraf Ghori in Dubai, 2010
BornMohammed Ashraf Ghori
(1973-09-17) 17 September 1973
Hyderabad, India
NationalityIndian
Area(s)Filmmaker, director, comic book artist, entrepreneur
Notable works
Xero Error
AwardsDigital Studio Awards – Best up and coming filmmaker, 2011
Made in UAE Awards – Distinguished Achievement Award, 2011

Early life & Professional Career

Ghori moved from Hyderabad, India to Dubai, UAE at the age of 2.[5][9] 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.[10] Ghori graduated from the University of Houston, Texas in 1994.[11]

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

In 2007, he founded digital creative agency Xpanse CGI in Dubai and started independent film-making with Xero Error in 2008.[12][13] Xero Error premiered at the 3rd Gulf Film Festival[14][15] and also played at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival and the 10th edition of Sci-Fi-London.[16] In 2010, Ghori was the Art Director / Production Designer for the first Indo-Emirati film 'Malal'.[17] He worked as Senior Digital Artist at Bayyinah TV from 2016 to 2017.[18][19]

Comic Book Artist

Ghori has produced work for comic book publishers including Dark Horse Comics and IDW Publishing.[20]

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'.[10][21] He was a featured comic artist at Dallas Fantasy Fair, 1994 (Dallas, Texas).[22]

In April 2012, Ghori was featured, along with Alvin Lee (comics), Lee Townsend & 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.[23]

His work on Arabic graphic novel 'Antarah' received critical acclaim as 'An Experiment Worthy of Praise'.[24]

Social Media Influencer

Ghori is ranked as a prominent social media influencer in the UAE.[25][26] In April 2014 Ghori was the social media ambassador for Ford Middle East's 'Stand Out' campaign for the MENA region[27] and again in 2015 to promote The Ford Mustang 2016 in the #ExperienceFord Social Media Campaign.[28] 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.[29][30][31][32]

He is a frequent speaker at events related to design, film and entrepreneurship in the UAE.[33]

Awards
  • Digital Studio Awards – Best up and coming filmmaker, 2011[8][34]
  • Made in UAE Awards – Distinguished Achievement Award, 2011

Filmography
  • 2012 Djinn (Feature Film)- Storyboard Artist
  • 2010 Levity – Xero Error Minus1 (08:00, Digital Animated Film)- Writer, Director, Producer
  • 2010 Malal (short film) – Production designer, Associate Producer (Xpanse CGI)
  • 2006 Arabana (short film) – Associate Producer

References
  1. "Who Dares Wins". Gulf News. 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. "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. "Ashraf Ghori on Levity: Xero-Error Minus 1". Doha Film Institute. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  8. 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.
  9. "Ashraf Ghori featured on". Storyofmylife.com. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  10. Reporter, Muby Asger, Staff (16 December 2010). "No room for error for Ashraf Ghori". GulfNews. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  11. "The Arabic 'Antarah' Comic: 'An Experiment Worthy of Praise'". Arablit. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  12. "SyFy Channel UK". Syfy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  13. "Michael Netzer's official site". Michaelnetzer.com. 17 February 2009. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  14. "UAE film industry is bursting with an array of talent". Gulf News. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  15. "Meet the filmmakers behind the Gulf Film Festival". Gulf News. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  16. "10th SCI-FI LONDON Programme". Sci-fi-london.com. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  17. "First-of-its-kind film: Casting Call, Gulf News". Gulfnews.com. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  18. "World Art Dubai officially opens". www.tradearabia.com. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  19. "Arts, culture 'essential to intellectual development'". www.tradearabia.com. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  20. "The Arabic 'Antarah' Comic: 'An Experiment Worthy of Praise'". Arablit. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  21. "Tempest Comics on Mile High Comics". Milehighcomics.com. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  22. "Ashraf Ghori". IMDb. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  23. "Celebrities of IGN Convention". IGN Middle East. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  24. "The Arabic 'Antarah' Comic: 'An Experiment Worthy of Praise'". Arablit. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  25. Alice Haine. "Meet the Twitterati (The National)". Thenational.ae. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  26. Tom Norton. "The Social Network (Esquire Middle East)". esquireme.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  27. "An Interview with Ashraf Ghori". Ford Middle East. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  28. Ford Middle East. "#ExperienceFord Campaign". Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  29. Trade Arabia News Service. "Arts, culture 'essential to intellectual development'". TradeArabia.com. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  30. Chris Fernando. "Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Now Available in UAE (Finally!)". pcmag.com. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  31. Arif Bacchus. "Microsoft Surface Pro 4 officially comes to the UAE". onmsft.com. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  32. 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.
  33. 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.
  34. "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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