Dr Atif Mohammed Ghani
- Associate Lecturer
- Communication MFA
- Associate Lecturer
- Digital Direction MA
Atif Mohammed Ghani SFHEA FRSA is an interdisciplinary producer, innovator, and inclusive educator, interested in building a radical decolonial praxis through story and character; and informing practices for change.
Atif currently teaches on the MA in Digital Direction and the MFA in Communication at the RCA.
Since completing his PhD in Sociology from the LSE, Atif has been working solidly as a Creative Producer for over 20 years.
During this time, he has delivered 15 feature films as Producer, and various award-winning immersive heritage experiences.
He is in the final stage of delivering an international immersive London heritage project where he is leading research, development and delivery in the UK.
Atif recently completed working at UAL as a Senior Researcher for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Creative Diversity.
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Research interests
Atif’s interest as an independent Creative Producer has been about building socially engaged creative practices – situated at the margins.
His doctoral research looked at a series of film practices which embodied specific British-Asian makers and subjectivities in British film history (1973 to 1996).
Atif began his film-making journey as part of the London Film-maker’s Co-op, a space of experimentation and site-specific non-linear film practice. But then shifted his own practice into more narrative cinema structures of story for his various feature films.
Since 2018, Atif has been nurturing work using immersive technologies virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality. This
multi-modal work is grounded in a “Museum Without Walls” approach where heritage archives are situated, and narratives co-produced with local communities.
Atif has also been involved in using immersive technologies to deliver Learning in Work and Fusion Skills as part of formal and informal learning environments, with a particular focus on work experience, internships, placements and Apprenticeships.
Research funding
Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada Partnership Award (2021-2024) Co-PI and Producer of immersive content.
Innovate UK's Creative Catalyst Award (2022)
Arts Council of England Project Award (2021, 2022, 2023)
Foundation for Future London Small Award (2021,2019)
Greater London Authority Project Award (2022)
Mayor of London’s Cultural Seeds Award (2019)
Awards
How I Got There (2022, feature film) “Audience Prize” at the Red Sea Festival 2022.
NEXUS (2020) Finalist The Fusion Prize: Cultural Mile and Foundation for Future London.
The Martha Street Experience (2020, 3D 360 VR) World Premiere BFI London Film Festival 2020 and finalist in “Best XR”. Winner of Kaleidoscope Premium VR Award, Winner Best in VR Roma and Planet Barcelona Film Festival.
My Pure Land (2017, feature film) BAFTA Best Foreign Language Film Nomination 2017.
Ill Manors (2012, feature film). Premiere Toronto International Film Festival Winner “Coup De Coeur” and “Cinematography” prizes Dinard Film Festival 2012.
Leaving Baghdad (2010, feature film) Winner “Raindance Award” BIFA 2011.
The Last Thakur (2009, feature film) Premiered London Film Festival 2008. Winner “Best Soundtrack” New York Independent Film Festival.
Current and recent projects
Chinaman (2025) A hilarious feature faux documentary, adaptation of Booker Prizer winner Shehan Karunatilaka’s debut novel. A European co-production between Denmark, Belgium, Sri Lanka and the UK.
Ill Manors Revisited (2024) A contemporary re-release of the 2012 project as a multi-episode series with new episodes and soundtrack from musical artists Plan B.
Southall (Series Development) (2024) 8 x 26-minute contemporary stories set within the global Asian diaspora which have a tangential connection to Southall.
Millenium Mills: Feeding Edwardian London (2023) A multi-user Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality heritage trail experience set around the Royal Docks London. Delivered as part of the Totally Thames Festivals 2023.
Crate Digging VR: De Underground Records and the History of Jungle Music (2022) Immersive Technologies used to step back into 1991 - De Underground Records Forest Gate, East London, the birthplace of Jungle music. Premiered Open House London Festival honourable mention Aesthetica Festival 2023.
Jet Trash (2016) Set in Goa where drugs, sex and mysticism are de rigueur, Lee thinks he has the perfect hideaway from his dark past. Starring Sofia Boutella and Robert Sheehan.
Hector (2015) Starring Peter Mullan as an ordinary man in an extraordinary situation. Sold by Urban Distribution International. Premiered Edinburgh Film Festival.
Y Syrcas (The Circus) (2014) Set in 1848, an anarchic troupe circus performers burst on the lives of a small Welsh village. Financed by S4C and the Tinopolis Group.
Anima State (2014) A masked gunman goes on a killing spree in Pakistan. Second feature from maverick Director Hammad Khan.
Ill Manors (2012) A multi-character story set against the tough streets of East London where everyone is fighting for respect. Debut feature from Ben Drew. Multi award-winning film, starring Riz Ahmad, Nick Sagar and Ed Skrein.
Leaving Baghdad (2010) Saddam’s official photographer is running from his guilt that haunts him. Debut feature film by Director Koutaiba Al Janabi. Winner “Raindance Award” BIFA 2011. Distributed by Dogwoff worldwide.
The Last Thakur (2009) Modern-day western of feuding tribes set deep in interior Bangladesh. Premiered London Film Festival 2008. Winner “Best Soundtrack” New York Independent Film Festival.
Publications, exhibitions, other outcomes
Publication. The Leader Within: Creative Shift’s Women+ of Colour Leadership Programme as a Sustainable Model for an Asset-Based Approach to Widening Participation, Special Issue of Industry and Higher Education. Editors Elisa Salvador and Roberta Comunian. Sage Journals. Expected January 2024.
Publication. (2023). Making the Creative Majority: A report for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Creative Diversity on ‘What Works’ to support diversity and inclusion in creative education and the talent pipeline, with a focus on the 16+ age category Kings College London and University of the Arts London, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Creative Diversity. October 2023.
Working Paper. (2023). Internships in the Creative and Cultural Industries: An Overview and Some Ideas for “What Works”, Kings College London and University of the Arts London, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Creative Diversity, March 2023.
Working Paper. (2022). Apprenticeships: An Overview and Some Ideas for “What Works”, Kings College London and University of the Arts London, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Creative Diversity, December 2022.
Working Paper. (2022). What Works in Building a Culturally Diverse Talent Pipeline for the UK Creative Industries: A Literature Review, Kings College London and University of the Arts London, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Creative Diversity, October 2022.
Presentation. (2021) Thinking with History in UniVirtual. Educators in VR and Virtual World Society. May 2021.
Presentation. (2021) With Dr Jim Clifford, University of Saskatchewan Thinking with History: Projecting London’s Industrial History Using Immersive Technologies at 5th AHRC Connected Communities Heritage Network Symposium. February 2021.
Presentation. (2020) Virtual Decisions: Personal Awareness About Gang Memberships, Educators in VR International Summit. March 2020
Invited Panellist. (2014)The Question of Film: Question Time. BAFTA November 2014.
Keynote Address. (2014) Micro-Budget Film Tactics Rotterdam International Film Festival Producer’s Lab, November 2014.