
Not Just Stories—
Echoes of Lives
Indie filmmaker. Development storyteller. 13 years of stories rooted in neo-realism, marginality, and the human condition.
A Witness to the Unspoken

INT. THE ORIGIN — DAY
Zayed Siddiki is an independent Bangladeshi filmmaker and impact producer whose work explores psychological fragility, social contradiction, and emotional isolation through a neo-realist lens. He is an alumnus of the Department of Television, Film and Photography at the University of Dhaka and a member of the Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA).
INT. THE WORK — NIGHT
His films have been officially selected at more than 50 international film festivals across five continents, earning numerous awards. His short Raven (2023) screened at 19 international film festivals including Minsk International Film Festival Listapad, Kazan International Film Festival, Dhaka International Film Festival, Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, International Film Festival of South Asia (Toronto), Toulouse Indian Film Festival, and Tokyo International Short Film Festival, among others, winning multiple awards. The film was subsequently acquired for distribution by 7Palms Entertainment (USA), ShortsTV (UK), and Screenxcope (Australia) and available on Amazon Prime video on demand. His student films have also been awarded and showcased at international film festivals, establishing him as a distinctive voice in contemporary Bangladeshi independent cinema.
EXT. THE PRACTICE — CONTINUOUS
Alongside his filmmaking, Siddiki has spent over 13 years in development communications, leading communications initiatives funded by USAID, USCDC, UNDP, WFP, SIDA, SDC, and the European Union, and implemented by organizations including World Vision, Save the Children, The Asia Foundation, BRAC, and HELVETAS, among others. This dual engagement has shaped his identity as a filmmaker who bridges grassroots realities with bold, human-centered cinematic expression.
INT. WHAT'S NEXT — LATER
His latest short, Fallen Petals (2026), is a restrained psychological drama preparing for its international festival premiere. He is currently developing his debut feature, NECROPHILE, a genre-blending psychological drama with dark body-horror elements and his psycho-social realism short MEENANTORI.
The Filmography
Latest Trailers
Fallen Petals
Short Fiction — 2026
QUEUE
Beyond the Frame
Parallel practices in development storytelling and visual design that extend the filmmaker's vision into the world.
Recognition

Winner — Special Jury Award
4th Bangladesh Short & Documentary Film Festival 2025
Raven
Winner — Best Film Award
6th Hill Film Festival 2024, Bangladesh
Raven
Winner — Special Jury Award
10th International Film Festival of Shimla 2024, India
Raven
Official Competition — International Shorts
31st Minsk International Film Festival 2025, Belarus
Raven
Official Competition — Jury Prize & Audience Award
10th Toulouse Indian Film Festival 2025, France
Raven
Official Competition — Jury & Audience Award
13th DC South Asian Film Festival 2024, USA
Raven
Official Competition — Best Featurette
13th IFFSA Toronto 2024, Canada
Raven
Official Competition — Best Short Film
14th South Asian Film Festival of Montreal 2025, Canada
Raven
Official Competition — Best Short Film
19th Kazan International Film Festival 2023, Russia
Raven
Official Selection
15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024, Australia
Raven
Official Selection
12th Indo-German Film Week 2024, Berlin, Germany
Raven
Official Selection
23rd Dhaka International Film Festival 2025, Bangladesh
Raven
Winner — Best Film Award
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy 3 Minutes FF 2022
In Expedition to Happiness
Winner — People's Choice Award
AUW Film Festival 2017, Bangladesh
Colourkite
Winner — Honorable Mention
8th International Inter-University Film Festival 2015, Dhaka University
Colourkite
Official Competition
17th Seoul International Youth Film Festival 2015, South Korea
ColourkiteFestivals & Screenings
Watch & Catch — Raven
The Working Process

Directing on set — Fallen Petals

On set — Tale of an Ecliptic Time

Full crew on set — Fallen Petals

Monitoring playback — Fallen Petals

Framing the shot — Fallen Petals

Raven — on location, Dhaka streets

Outdoor shooting — Fallen Petals

Directing actors — Fallen Petals

Crowd scene — Raven, exterior location

Tracking shot setup — Raven, railway location
In the Media
Times of Bangladesh
Zayed Siddiki's 'Darkaak' to compete at MIFF 2025
Out of 3,655 submissions from 120 countries, Darkaak (Raven) is one of 13 short films selected for competition at the 31st Minsk International Film Festival Listapad — the only Bangladeshi entry.
The Daily Star
'Darkaak' selected for Minsk International Film Festival Listspad 2025
Bangladeshi independent filmmaker Zayed Siddiki's 'Darkaak' (RAVEN, 2024) has been officially selected for competition at the 31st Minsk International Film Festival Listapad — one of Eastern Europe's most prestigious film events.
Daily Times (Pakistan)
'Darkak' set to hit world film festivals
Darkak is set to screen at the 10th Toulouse Indian Cinema Festival in France and the 14th South Asian Film Festival of Montreal in Canada. The film has already been selected by 16 international film festivals in 10 countries.
The Daily Star
Bangladeshi short film 'Darkak' wins award at Shimla Int'l Film Festival
'Darkak' has earned the Special Critics' Award at the 10th Shimla International Film Festival in India, held at the historic Gaiety Theatre Cultural Complex. Director Zayed Siddiqui personally received the award.
New Age BD
Zayed's 'Darkaak' selected for film festivals in France, Canada
Filmmaker Zayed Siddiki's short film Darkaak has been selected for the 10th Toulouse Indian Cinema Festival in France and the 14th South Asian Film Festival of Montreal in Canada.
Daily Sun
'Darkaak' wins Special Jury award at IFFS
Zayed Siddiki's short film 'Darkaak' (Raven) has been awarded a Special Jury Prize at the 10th International Film Festival of Shimla. The award was presented by the Governor of Himachal Pradesh at the Gaiety Theatre Complex.
Prothom Alo
পুরস্কার জিতল 'দাঁড়কাক'
ভারতে দশম শিমলা আন্তর্জাতিক চলচ্চিত্র উৎসবে বিশেষ সমালোচক পুরস্কার জিতল বাংলাদেশের স্বল্পদৈর্ঘ্য চলচ্চিত্র 'দাঁড়কাক'। Award won at the 10th Shimla International Film Festival.
New Age BD
Zayed's 'Darkaak' bags Special Jury in Indian film fest
Filmmaker Zayed Siddiki's short film Darkaak bagged the Special Jury Prize at the 10th International Film Festival of Shimla in India. 'It is always special to receive award from a notable festival like IFFS,' said the director.
Prothom Alo
'দাঁড়কাক' তিন আন্তর্জাতিক উৎসবে যাচ্ছে
Zayed Siddiki's 'Darkaak' selected for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (Australia), Shimla International Film Festival (India), and DC South Asian Film Festival (USA).
EngageMedia / Cinemata
Cinemata Features: Zayed Siddiki
A spotlight on Zayed Siddiki — award-winning independent filmmaker, human rights defender, and development communications professional based in Dhaka, whose films have screened in festivals across South Korea, India, Romania, Turkey, and the Philippines.
The Daily Star
Jayanta Chattopadhyay starrer 'Darkak' selected in three int'l film festivals
Bangladeshi director Zayed Siddiki's short film 'Darkak' (Raven) has been selected for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, the Shimla International Film Festival, and the DC South Asian Film Festival.
Dhaka Tribune
'West Meets East Screenplay Lab' announces finalists
The Dhaka International Film Festival's West Meets East Screenplay Lab announces its selected projects, including Zayed Siddiki's debut feature 'Necrophile' — a psychological thriller among 10 chosen South Asian projects.
Dhaka Tribune
Colourkite and Dream Lithe at Film Festival in Norway
Two short films by Zayed Siddiki — 'Colourkite' (2014) and 'Dream Lithe' (2016) — are selected for screening at a film festival in Norway, expanding the filmmaker's international footprint.
The Daily Star
Award-winning films spotlight indigenous voices at Hill Film Festival
The 6th Hill Film Festival closes with 'Raven' by Zayed Siddiki winning Best Short Fiction. The festival showcased 62 films from 20 countries at DrikPath Bhobon and Shala Neighbourhood Art Space, Dhaka.






















