Biography
Iram Parveen Bilal
Director/Writer
parveenshahproductions@gmail.com
Raised in Nigeria and Pakistan, Iram Parveen Bilal came to America to study at the California Institute of Technology. She graduated with her B.S in Environmental Science Engineering.
Upon graduating, Bilal was awarded a unique opportunity with the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, a travel fellowship grant that took her around the world. Bilal studied the motives behind body movement and dance; whether they are based solely on religion, society, tradition or another conceptual artifact. She wanted to know why rhythmic body movement was so innate to the human form and why an art form that is an essence of worship to some, can be a taboo for others. What makes dance so stimulating and impactful?
Upon her return, Bilal began her career in film by getting her M.F.A. at the prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California.
Bilal has since directed short films and music videos that have traveled to international film festivals and has worked in feature documentaries thus far. She is currently trying to bring her first feature film into fruition and has received encouraging responses from FIND, IFP, SUNDANCE, The CineReach Foundation, The Nicholl Fellowship and foreign labs and markets thus far for her three feature projects in development.
Bilal is interested in directing and writing fiction, reality, short and long form media and plans to travel back and forth for projects in Los Angeles and South Asia. As a Pakistani woman, she is conscious of the rare opportunity and voice she has on the filmmaking playground today and is determined to make the best of it for peace, tolerance and understanding in today's exceedingly polarized world. She is looking to direct her next project. Please contact her for more information on her past work and her feature projects in progress.