Pakistani CG artist won an Oscar

Oscars 2008 were, well, a yawn to watch. But the prestige associated with the gold statues is still unsurpassed in cinema. And this year was significant in that a Pakistani managed to work on a film that not only picked up a prestigious Academy Award nomination but also won!

The man is Mir Zafar Ali, a visual effects specialist, and the film he worked for was the high-profile flick, The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman and "Bond" man Daniel Craig.

The Golden Compass picked up the award for Best Visual Effects and Mir Zafar Ali was one of the 'Effects Technical Director' at Rhythm and Hues, the US-based company that worked on this particular film. Those of us who've seen the film do not recall a Pakistani man up onstage picking up the Oscar. And the only reason for that is that only the main four supervisors went and picked up the trophy.

However, Mir Zafar Ali is actually mentioned in the full credits of the film.

Academy Award isn't his only accomplishment. The Golden Compass also managed to pick up a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award as well.


Filmography of Mir Zafar Ali
The Incredible Hulk -
( Animation Director(- Effects TD) / 2008 / Released / )

Spider-Man 3 -
( Animator(- FX Animator) / 2007 / Released / )

The Golden Compass -
( Animation Director(- Effects TD) / 2007 / Released / )

Monster House -
( Animator(- Effects Animation) / 2006 / Released / )

Open Season -
( Digital Effects Artist(- Effects Artist) / 2006 / Released / )

Stealth -
( Animator(- CG Effects Animator) / 2005 / Released / )