Tarique Qayumi

British Columbia

Tarique Qayumi is a Canadian-Afghan filmmaker whose work spans feature films, television, and international storytelling. His journey began with a dramatic escape from Afghanistan, hidden in the back of a truck with his mother, an experience that continues to shape his voice as a storyteller.

Selected for the Warner Bros. x Academy Directing Program, Qayumi directed an episode of CBC's Allegiance.

His second feature, Black Kite, premiered at TIFF, screened at over 20 international festivals, and won three Leo Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writer. The film was acquired by Amazon Studios. His third feature, Conceiving Clara, produced with Telefilm Canada, premiered at the Canadian Film Festival, screened at Dances With Films in Los Angeles, and debuted on Hollywood Suite.

Qayumi's television series Kabul Kitchen won the Creator of Colour Incubator at TIFF and received pre-development funding from CBC. His current feature, Over the Next Hill, developed with a proof-of-concept shot in Tajikistan, was selected for the DGC delegation to the European Film Market.

Known for his strong work with actors, Qayumi trained under renowned acting coach Judith Weston. He is also an early adopter of virtual production in Canada, having directed the short film Mara's World using LED stage technology.

He has mentored at the Whistler Film Festival Screenwriting Labs and served as a juror for VIFF and the Crazy8's Film Festival. Earlier in his career, he directed hit television series in Afghanistan, including Truth UnveiledThe Defenders, and Sesame Street Afghanistan, reaching millions of viewers nationwide.

Meridian Artists - Courtenay Bainbridge
cbainbridge@meridianartists.com

Tarique Qayumi

Main Reel

Main Reel

  • Conceiving Clara

    Conceiving Clara

    Dates: 2025

    Link: IMDB

    Roles: Director, Writer

    Type: Indie Feature

    Genre: Drama

  • Allegiance

    Allegiance

    Episodes: S2.E9

    Dates: 2025

    Link: IMDB

    Role: Director

    Studio / Network: CBC

    Type: One-hour episodic (TV/SVOD)

    Genre: Drama, Crime, Procedural

  • Black Kite

    Black Kite

    Dates: 2017

    Link: IMDB

    Role: Writer

    Type: Indie Feature

    Genre: Drama

  • Targeting

    Targeting

    Dates: 2014

    Link: IMDB

    Roles: Director, Writer

    Type: Indie Feature

    Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller

  • The Defenders

    The Defenders

    Dates: 2013

    Link: IMDB

    Roles: Director, Creator

    Type: Limited Series

    Genre: Drama, Crime

  • Truth Unveiled: Rah-e-Haqiqat

    Truth Unveiled: Rah-e-Haqiqat

    Dates: 2012

    Link: IMDB

    Role: Director

    Type: Half-hour episodic (TV/SVOD)

    Genre: Crime, Documentary