Writers’ Bio’s
Dean Qureshi, JD
Having been involved in the performing arts from a young age, Dean Qureshi parlayed those experiences into a talent for creative writing while still in high school. With a focus on theatre and music in his youth, he began developing a skill for video production by shooting short stories… before YouTube and digital media was a thing.
While attending York University in Toronto, Canada, Dean began writing, producing, and directing short films, music videos, and documentaries, ultimately earning him commercial production deals. Soon after graduating, he adapted an award winning foreign book into a pilot screenplay and pitched OMNI, a national broadcaster in Canada. The following three years saw Dean develop, write, and produce the “Canadian Desi” dramatic television series. The 26-episode season continues to air on OMNI Television to this day, although for Dean, it was an incredible hands-on learning experience.
Following the broadcast of the television show, Dean moved to the U.S. to attend law school where he graduated with a special focus on Intellectual Property, Entertainment Law, and Cyber Law. During his time at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, California, he interned in the legal departments of Nickelodeon Animation and Bug Music, Inc. (now BMG Music). He spent his time at both entertainment powerhouses pouring over contracts and deal memos, learning everything he could about the business side of the industry.
Intent on returning to the creative side of things, Dean spent a few years off the grid developing and writing several projects. In that time, he penned a mountain of work, including various feature film screenplays, a few short film screenplays, two television pilots, short stories, academic essays, and a 240,000 word non-fiction biography of a man serving life in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Now that Dean has once again shifted gears and is pushing his slate of material out into the world intent on seeing them go into production, he has been having some positive results. In 2016, his feature screenplay entitled Defend Her, a coming of age story about a boy from a conservative community with an LGBT family member, was the recipient of the Best Dramatic Screenplay award at the Canadian Diversity Film Festival. During the same festival, his screenplay entitled We are…DEAF TO AMERICA!, a feature about an all Muslim-American death metal band thrust into the limelight, was an Official Selection for the same award.
Furthermore, The Costume, co-written with Maariyah Qazi, a short film about a college party where dark forces are at work on all sides, won the Best Unproduced Screenplay Award at the 2016 Northeast Film Festival Horror Fest, was a semi-finalist for the Best 360-Video Script at the 2016 Virtual Reality Film Fest, and is currently an official selection for the iHorror Awards coming up this March. Finally, A Touch of Fire, his horror screenplay co-written by Jim Qureshi, about two detectives’ mystical journey while investigating a slew of ritualistic murders, was a 2016 Finalist for TheWriteRoom.org annual screenplay competition and is also a nominee for the upcoming iHorror Awards.
With an undeterred commitment to write engaging material and develop high quality productions, Dean continues to forge his own path in the TV and Film industry.
Having been involved in the performing arts from a young age, Dean Qureshi parlayed those experiences into a talent for creative writing while still in high school. With a focus on theatre and music in his youth, he began developing a skill for video production by shooting short stories… before YouTube and digital media was a thing.
While attending York University in Toronto, Canada, Dean began writing, producing, and directing short films, music videos, and documentaries, ultimately earning him commercial production deals. Soon after graduating, he adapted an award winning foreign book into a pilot screenplay and pitched OMNI, a national broadcaster in Canada. The following three years saw Dean develop, write, and produce the “Canadian Desi” dramatic television series. The 26-episode season continues to air on OMNI Television to this day, although for Dean, it was an incredible hands-on learning experience.
Following the broadcast of the television show, Dean moved to the U.S. to attend law school where he graduated with a special focus on Intellectual Property, Entertainment Law, and Cyber Law. During his time at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, California, he interned in the legal departments of Nickelodeon Animation and Bug Music, Inc. (now BMG Music). He spent his time at both entertainment powerhouses pouring over contracts and deal memos, learning everything he could about the business side of the industry.
Intent on returning to the creative side of things, Dean spent a few years off the grid developing and writing several projects. In that time, he penned a mountain of work, including various feature film screenplays, a few short film screenplays, two television pilots, short stories, academic essays, and a 240,000 word non-fiction biography of a man serving life in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Now that Dean has once again shifted gears and is pushing his slate of material out into the world intent on seeing them go into production, he has been having some positive results. In 2016, his feature screenplay entitled Defend Her, a coming of age story about a boy from a conservative community with an LGBT family member, was the recipient of the Best Dramatic Screenplay award at the Canadian Diversity Film Festival. During the same festival, his screenplay entitled We are…DEAF TO AMERICA!, a feature about an all Muslim-American death metal band thrust into the limelight, was an Official Selection for the same award.
Furthermore, The Costume, co-written with Maariyah Qazi, a short film about a college party where dark forces are at work on all sides, won the Best Unproduced Screenplay Award at the 2016 Northeast Film Festival Horror Fest, was a semi-finalist for the Best 360-Video Script at the 2016 Virtual Reality Film Fest, and is currently an official selection for the iHorror Awards coming up this March. Finally, A Touch of Fire, his horror screenplay co-written by Jim Qureshi, about two detectives’ mystical journey while investigating a slew of ritualistic murders, was a 2016 Finalist for TheWriteRoom.org annual screenplay competition and is also a nominee for the upcoming iHorror Awards.
With an undeterred commitment to write engaging material and develop high quality productions, Dean continues to forge his own path in the TV and Film industry.
Maariyah Qazi
Maariyah Qazi is a fourth year Psychology major at Western University in London, Canada, minoring in environment and culture. As a child, Maariyah’s creative abilities often emerged through her art and writing projects, and this sentiment has echoed throughout her life into young adulthood. From school newspaper articles and academic papers, to personal writings and projects to improve her skills, she weaves literary art into her life as often as possible while maintaining a balance with her academic duties.
However, as her career as a Psychology student comes to a close, she has an invigorated interest in penning more original material and she aims to further develop her writing portfolio. Most recently, Maariyah collaborated with Dean Qureshi on an award-winning short film screenplay titled The Costume: a 360-video perspective of a college Halloween party gone wrong. In the near future, Maariyah aims to create pieces that reflect her interest in the oddities of human nature, and hopes that one day her work will resonate with audiences around the world.
Maariyah Qazi is a fourth year Psychology major at Western University in London, Canada, minoring in environment and culture. As a child, Maariyah’s creative abilities often emerged through her art and writing projects, and this sentiment has echoed throughout her life into young adulthood. From school newspaper articles and academic papers, to personal writings and projects to improve her skills, she weaves literary art into her life as often as possible while maintaining a balance with her academic duties.
However, as her career as a Psychology student comes to a close, she has an invigorated interest in penning more original material and she aims to further develop her writing portfolio. Most recently, Maariyah collaborated with Dean Qureshi on an award-winning short film screenplay titled The Costume: a 360-video perspective of a college Halloween party gone wrong. In the near future, Maariyah aims to create pieces that reflect her interest in the oddities of human nature, and hopes that one day her work will resonate with audiences around the world.
Martin Qureshi
Martin Qureshi joined the Toronto independent film industry in the late 90’s and has been an active participant ever since. After earning a degree from the University of Toronto, he attended the Toronto Film School, where he graduated as a top student having mastered a variety of production techniques and skills.
Early on, Martin joined the Liaison of Independent Film Makers of Toronto (LIFT). He accepted a position on the organization’s Board of Directors, holding the post from ‘99 to ’03. In that time, he helped implement a variety of programs and initiatives aimed at helping up and coming filmmakers learn valuable skills, gain a foothold in the industry, and network with other industry professionals.
Short films, music videos, documentaries, and commercials pepper Martin’s list of production credits, ultimately leading to the production of Canadian Desi, a 26-part series that aired nationally across Canada. As a co-producer and editor, Martin guided the heavily dramatic show, which revolved around the clash of cultures between South Asian parents and their Canadian born offspring, from inception to broadcast.
Following the initial airing of Canadian Desi, Martin opened his own post-production house, focusing on various commercial and corporate video productions. After a host of successful projects and satisfied clients, Martin has returned to his true passion: creative film production. His short film screenplay, On-Set Upgrade, co-written by his brother Dean Qureshi, is a genre-bending piece that only begins to demonstrate the inventive perspective that Martin brings to his productions. With more projects in the works, Martin is dedicated to seeing them get on screen in the near future.
Martin Qureshi joined the Toronto independent film industry in the late 90’s and has been an active participant ever since. After earning a degree from the University of Toronto, he attended the Toronto Film School, where he graduated as a top student having mastered a variety of production techniques and skills.
Early on, Martin joined the Liaison of Independent Film Makers of Toronto (LIFT). He accepted a position on the organization’s Board of Directors, holding the post from ‘99 to ’03. In that time, he helped implement a variety of programs and initiatives aimed at helping up and coming filmmakers learn valuable skills, gain a foothold in the industry, and network with other industry professionals.
Short films, music videos, documentaries, and commercials pepper Martin’s list of production credits, ultimately leading to the production of Canadian Desi, a 26-part series that aired nationally across Canada. As a co-producer and editor, Martin guided the heavily dramatic show, which revolved around the clash of cultures between South Asian parents and their Canadian born offspring, from inception to broadcast.
Following the initial airing of Canadian Desi, Martin opened his own post-production house, focusing on various commercial and corporate video productions. After a host of successful projects and satisfied clients, Martin has returned to his true passion: creative film production. His short film screenplay, On-Set Upgrade, co-written by his brother Dean Qureshi, is a genre-bending piece that only begins to demonstrate the inventive perspective that Martin brings to his productions. With more projects in the works, Martin is dedicated to seeing them get on screen in the near future.
Jim Qureshi
Over 40 years ago, Jim Qureshi started his career as a film director in Toronto. His first independent film, Karachi Connection, wrapped production in 1975. With a history in directing independent full feature films, such as Mousum Hay Rungeen and India Town, Jim had a tenacity to bring Bollywood style energy to North American productions.
After a hiatus, Jim returned to the director’s chair for the television production Canadian Desi. Upon reading the first draft of the Canadian Desi pilot teleplay, Jim became passionate about telling the highly relevant and timely stories embedded in the series arc. Once again, Jim brought Bollywood style drama to a North American medium.
With the intention of getting back on a feature film set, commanding a cast and the action that surrounds them, Jim has penned A Touch of Fire with his son Dean Qureshi. The screenplay earned a spot as a 2016 Finalist in TheWriteRoom.org’s annual screenplay competition, and is currently an Official Selection for the iHorror Awards occurring in March 2017. The story is set in North America and India, demonstrating Jim’s deep understanding of both cultures and how to bridge the gaps between them through a horrifying story of mythical proportions. While drama has often been Jim’s focus in the past, action, adventure, and horror are well within the wide range of his passion to create engaging films.
Over 40 years ago, Jim Qureshi started his career as a film director in Toronto. His first independent film, Karachi Connection, wrapped production in 1975. With a history in directing independent full feature films, such as Mousum Hay Rungeen and India Town, Jim had a tenacity to bring Bollywood style energy to North American productions.
After a hiatus, Jim returned to the director’s chair for the television production Canadian Desi. Upon reading the first draft of the Canadian Desi pilot teleplay, Jim became passionate about telling the highly relevant and timely stories embedded in the series arc. Once again, Jim brought Bollywood style drama to a North American medium.
With the intention of getting back on a feature film set, commanding a cast and the action that surrounds them, Jim has penned A Touch of Fire with his son Dean Qureshi. The screenplay earned a spot as a 2016 Finalist in TheWriteRoom.org’s annual screenplay competition, and is currently an Official Selection for the iHorror Awards occurring in March 2017. The story is set in North America and India, demonstrating Jim’s deep understanding of both cultures and how to bridge the gaps between them through a horrifying story of mythical proportions. While drama has often been Jim’s focus in the past, action, adventure, and horror are well within the wide range of his passion to create engaging films.
