Maruf Proteek

Maruf Proteek’s filmmaking journey began in Bangladesh, where his curiosity for human stories first drew him into development communications. Working with organizations such as UNICEF, BRAC, Oxfam, the Government of Bangladesh, and several international universities, he spent years shaping documentaries and visual campaigns centered on real people, real struggles, and real change. These early experiences grounded his voice in empathy and taught him how film can serve as both advocacy and art. His transition into narrative cinema started with Godhuli (2015), a debut short that screened across Bangladeshi festivals and introduced him to the language of fiction. This momentum led him to Bengali Beauty (2018), where he worked as First Assistant Director and gained deeper insight into long-form storytelling and the collaborative heartbeat of filmmaking. As his creative interests expanded, Maruf moved into producing, becoming Executive Producer of the independent shorts Memories & Miseries (2025) and Jaal (2026). Simultaneously, he began developing his first feature film, Tomorrow's Menu, a project that blends personal memory with cinematic imagination. His screenwriting work also grew with Gulmohor (2025), an upcoming Chorki Original Series directed by Syed Ahmed Shawki. Beyond his work on set, Maruf continues to support the broader film community. He was selected for Platform Busan 2022, a prestigious program for emerging Asian filmmakers at the Busan International Film Festival and Asian Contents & Film Market-an experience that expanded his global approach to storytelling. Now based in Canada, Maruf brings his South Asian roots into a new cultural landscape. His stories increasingly explore migration, identity, belonging, and reinvention-reflecting not just a career, but a journey shaped by movement across borders and a continued search for home through film.