ABOUT KABIR
KABIR AKHTAR has directed, edited, and written for hit shows for a whole alphabet worth of networks, including
HBO,
NBC,
ABC,
CBS,
Fox,
PBS,
TBS,
IFC,
UPN,
VH1,
MTV,
ITV,
ESPN,
the WB,
Showtime,
Comedy Central,
Sci-Fi,
Bravo,
Spike,
Lifetime,
Oxygen,
and has done work for theatrical release for
New Line Cinema,
MTV,
UPN,
Epic Records,
and independent distributors.
along the way, kabir has had a hand in many hit shows, including
"The Daily Show",
VH1's "Behind the Music",
and The Academy Awards, and has been named
senior/supervising editor of various top-ten-rated prime time series.
the Academy Awards broadcast was Nominated for an
Emmy for Best Picture Editing, but due to Emmys rules, only seven of the many editors were listed.
kabir also edited the Fox Sports documentary series
"Beyond the Glory", which garnered an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding
Edited Sports Series.
he went to bombay to direct "Mumbai
Calling", a scripted british comedy series for ITV1. once producers saw him at work, he was offered extra episodes, which he gladly accepted. the series has also aired internationally on HBO in Asia and Australia.
kabir directed the new edition of the classic show
"Unsolved Mysteries", and created many elements of the series' new look. after seeing the pilot, Spike ordered 175 episodes; kabir directed all of the new material.
recently, kabir directed the "TV Diaries" pilot for Fox, and a few shorts for a CBS
adaptation of the hit NPR show
"Wait Wait Don't Tell Me".
he has also directed shows for Comedy Central, from "The Daily Show" to specials, creating scripted and improv material with such
talent as
David Spade,
Will Ferrell,
Adam Sandler,
George Lopez,
Kate Beckinsale,
David Arquette, and the cast of
"Reno 911!"
kabir directed a music video parody at the Lucasfilm Ranch, starring several Star Wars characters. he was the first director allowed to show those characters doing fun things like
playing football, arm-wrestling, and having a picnic.
the short, which starred
Brian Posehn
alongside
Darth Vader
and
Chewbacca, was reviewed favorably by StarWars.com as being "like nothing you've ever seen."
among the scripted series kabir has cut are
"Tracey Ullman's State of the Union" (Showtime),
"Wyclef Jean in America" (HBO),
"Van Stone: Tour of Duty" (Comedy Central),
and
"Eagleheart" (Adult Swim).
kabir has also edited numerous television shows, commercials, movie trailers and short films, and documentaries.
kabir has been listed by NBC's Diversity Initiative
as one of the industry's "People to Watch." he hopes you are
not watching him right now, though. that would just be creepy.
kabir is based in los angeles, but seems to always be flying somewhere
for work.
a philadelphia native, kabir holds a B.A. in Communications from
the University of Pennsylvania and an M.F.A. in Motion Picture
Production from the University of Miami.