Syeda Kashmala
Producer | Director | Lawyer
Syeda Kashmala is an accomplished documentary producer, director, and trained lawyer whose work sits at the intersection of cinema, human rights, gender justice, and climate advocacy. With a formal background in law (LLB Hons) and advanced training in documentary practice and gender studies, including the American Film Showcase in Documentary at the University of Southern California and a Diploma in Gender Studies from the University of Iceland, she brings rigorous research, ethical clarity, and narrative depth to socially engaged filmmaking.
Her producing work spans internationally recognized documentaries such as Moklani – The Last Mohanas, Bhashaili (Adrift), Natari, The Color of Smog, and The Losing Side, addressing themes of statelessness, migration, religious freedom, environmental justice, and communities living on the margins. She has collaborated with leading institutions, including UNDP, UNHCR, WHO, Save the Children, and HRCP, and has led impact-driven storytelling projects across Pakistan and South Asia.
Her films have earned significant international recognition, including a Jackson Wild Media Award, Cannes World Film Festival Best Human Rights Film, and numerous official selections at leading environmental and human rights festivals. In addition to filmmaking, Kashmala is actively involved in leadership training, constitutional advocacy, and cultural policy discussions. She is the founder of the Aain Foundation, which focuses on constitutional rights and social justice, and the co-founder of Climate Kahani, a storytelling initiative centered on climate, culture, and heritage through Enimoret Communication. She is also a lifetime member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Awards & Official Selections
- Jackson Wild Media Awards 2025 (USA) — Winner, Global Voices | Moklani – The Last Mohanas
- Tulum Environment Film Festival 2025 — Winner, Best Immigration Film | Natari
- South Asian Film Festival of Montreal 2024 — Official Selection | Bhashaili (Adrift)
- Rung Film Festival 2024 — Honorable Mention | Bhashaili (Adrift)
- Environmental Film Festival at Yale (EFFY) 2024 — Official Selection | Natari
- Cannes World Film Festival 2022 — Best Human Rights Film | The Losing Side
Professional Development & Fellowships
- American Film Showcase – Documentary | University of Southern California (2022)
- Diploma in Gender Studies | University of Iceland (2025)
- Global Campus of Human Rights – Summer Program (2024)
- Alumni, Media Defense
- Alumni, Beyond Borders Scotland (2024)
- Feminist Leadership Training – AktivAsia
- Public Narrative Executive Leadership Program – Marshall Ganz
- Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) Training
