NYU News & Documentary

05/29/2026

Hooray, Contessa!

05/29/2026

Congrats to contessa Gayle’s and her Emmy win!

Outstanding Art Direction/ Set Decoration/Scenic Design: Documentary Songs From the Hole.
Contessa with another NewsDoc nominee, Claire Ward.

05/25/2026

Congrats again to Shehzad!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B9yASfdRH/

Legendary Pakistani documentary filmmaker Shehzad Hameed Ahmad has won two gold awards for his investigative documentary films “Addicted: The Synthetic Curse” and “Vapours of Death” at the New York Festivals 2026 in New York City. This marks Shehzad’s total tally of 12 world medals at the New York Festivals alone, inching closer to a global world record. Both films highlight the growing global crisis of substance abuse amongst the youth and the devastating impact of illegal trafficking networks on communities across the globe.

Shehzad’s experience that spans over 20 years, directing over 100 documentaries, pushing the understanding of the world by filming with some of the most difficult to access stories ranging from exposing illegal gold miners in Brazil's protected Amazon rainforests, filming underwater to unearth the coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef's to filming the battle between the Afghan Taliban and Afghanistan National Army in Afghanistan.

Shehzad was previously honoured with the Prince of Asturias Award from the King of Spain in 2014. His documentaries have won 4 Global Media Awards in Germany, Green Image Award in Japan, 2 Handle Climate Change Film Awards in China, Singapore's Gender Equality Impact Change-maker Award 2020. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a MA in Documentary Filmmaking from NYU.

05/15/2026

Catch the last film of this year’s Inside Lens series on May 15.

05/13/2026

Congratulations to Class of ‘26 !!!

05/13/2026

“Moving Borders” is a film event focused on making visible the borders that permeate our everyday lives.

When: Friday, May 22, 2026
Where: NYU Arthur L. Carter, Journalism Institute,
20 Cooper Square, NY, 10003, 7th floor screening room.
Time: Doors - 5:30pm
Films - 6:00 - 7:15
Q&A and Reception After!
RSVP link in bio

05/10/2026

Congrats to Shehzad
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18tzJJ5H3v/

Award-winning Pakistani documentary filmmaker Shehzad Hameed Ahmad has won the Silver Award for his documentary “Add!cted: The Narco Plague” in the Documentary: Social and Politics category at the World Media Festival 2026 in Germany.

The film highlights the growing global cris_is of substance abu_se and the devastating impact of ille_gal traffi_cking networks on communities.

The documentary takes viewers across 6 continents, investigating how cri_minal networks are fuelling viol_ence affecting societies.

From con_flict-hit regions in South America to major European ports and struggling communities in the United States, the film sheds light on the human cost of organized cri_me and the challenges authorities face in controlling ille_gal trade and rising addi_ction cases.

Shehzad’s experience that spans over 20 years, directing over 100 documentaries, pushing the understanding of the world by filming with some of the most difficult to access stories ranging from embedding with the white mili_tia groups in the backwaters of Alabama, unmasking RSS backed misinformation peddlers in Rajasthan, investigating Nepali underage marriages, exposing ille_gal gold miners in Brazil's protected Amazon rainforests, filming underwater to unearth the coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef's to filming the ba_ttle between the Afghan Taliban and Afghanistan National Ar_my in Afghanistan.

Shehzad was previously honoured with the Prince of Asturias Award from the King of Spain in 2014. His documentaries have won 10 World Medals at New York Festivals, 3 Global Media Awards in Germany, Green Image Award in Japan, 2 Handle Climate Change Film Awards in China, Singapore's Gender Equality Impact Change-maker Award 2020. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a MA in Documentary Filmmaking from NYU.

Disclaimer: This post is shared for informational purposes only. Startup Dubai is not responsible for the claims, views, or content presented in the documentary or by its makers.

05/09/2026

Off we go to film our thesis projects with our beloved FX3s. From long shoots to late-night hangs, this semester has given has some unforgettable memories.

Thanks to professors and for prepping us for the intense journey ahead.

05/08/2026

Catch the second part of NYU alumna ‘s thesis film, Unbroken Spirits, tonight on NY/Life Channel 25.