Akam Rezaee
Akam Rezaee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 1989 Mahabad, Iran |
| Nationality | Kurdish–American |
| Occupation(s) | Filmmaker, Visual Effects Supervisor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Akam Rezaee (born September 1989) is a Kurdish–American filmmaker, visual effects (VFX) supervisor,[1] digital compositor, and colorist living in Los Angeles.[2][3][4][5]
Early life and education
[edit]Rezaee was born in Mahabad, Eastern Kurdistan. At 16, he began creating short films and music videos using limited technical resources, reflecting his early commitment to visual storytelling in the absence of formal film training in his region.[5] After several years spent as a refugee in Turkey, he was granted asylum in the United States. He subsequently pursued formal training in visual effects at Gnomon — a professional, industry-focused for-profit institution located in North Hollywood that specializes in artistic and technical instruction in VFX and game arts.[6]
Career
[edit]Rezaee’s professional work includes:
- Serving as digital compositor on multiple major television productions and feature films.[7]
- Working on projects for Netflix, Apple TV+, Showtime, and Paramount.[5]
- Handling VFX and color grading for short films and documentaries, including The Ruth Brinker Story and How Far Is Home.[8]
- Working on productions associated with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.[5]
In 2024, he served on the Kurdish feature jury at the Duhok International Film Festival.[3]
Podcasting
[edit]From 2021 to 2024, he hosted The Last Word with Akam, a Kurdish-language podcast featuring filmmakers, artists, and activists.[9]
Advocacy
[edit]Rezaee champions Kurdish cinema by bringing advanced techniques—like high-end VFX and color grading—to regions lacking access.[5]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ransom Canyon | Digital Compositor | 6 episodes |
| 2025 | 1923 | Digital Compositor | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Masters of the Air | Compositor | 4 episodes (Mini-series) |
| 2023 | Ted Lasso | Digital Compositor | 11 episodes |
| 2023 | Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. | Digital Compositor | |
| 2023 | Insidious: The Red Door | Compositor | |
| 2022 | Hellraiser | Digital Compositor | |
| 2022 | The Ruth Brinker Story | VFX & Color | Short film |
| 2021 | How Far Is Home | Associate Producer, Colorist, VFX | Documentary |
Awards and recognition
[edit]- Jury member – Kurdish feature category, Duhok International Film Festival (2024).[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ The Ruth Brinker Story (Short 2022) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-07-08 – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ "Akam Rezaee - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ^ a b c "Iranian filmmakers dominate Duhok Int'l Film Festival with record 27 entries". Iran Daily. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ Rezaee, Akam. "سایت شخصی Akam Rezaee". مرجع متخصصین ایران. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ a b c d e "Kurdistan-Born, Hollywood-Made: The Story of Akam Rezaee". Gold Institute for International Strategy. 3 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Gnomon School of Visual Effects". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ "Akam Rezaee - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ The Ruth Brinker Story (Short 2022) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-07-08 – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ "The Last Word with Akam". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 11 August 2025.