Shahnaz Dulaimy

(She/Her)

Shahnaz’s breakthrough project is the scripted television series Top Boy.

Iraqi-born Shahnaz Dulaimy’s love for editing was cultivated in the perfect place. While studying for a degree in Visual Communications from the American University of Rome in Italy, she found herself surrounded by the inspirational backdrop of so many influential films, from La Dolce Vita to The Bicycle Thieves. After returning to Jordan, where her parents lived, she found her options to work as an editor in the Middle East’s local industry restrictive. Refusing to give up on her aspirations, Shahnaz began looking further afield and found herself drawn to London, “the post-production hub of the world”. She successfully applied for a UK talent visa and moved to the capital with two suitcases and a dream.

It was initially a struggle to find representation, but Shahnaz persevered once again, eventually securing an agent. Her talent for editing was finally given a chance to shine in documentary feature Name Me Lawand (2022), The Gallows Pole (2023) and the first four episodes of the BAFTA-winning final season of Top Boy (2023). Having triumphed over all the hurdles in her path to date, from Baghdad to BAFTA, Shahnaz is eager to face the future challenges that await in the craft she loves.

In their own words…

“I think the learning and connections [of BAFTA Breakthrough] is going to be very valuable to me, as I’ve never had that. I’m also excited to meet the rest of the Breakthrough cohort and people who are on my level. What if this relationship becomes a life-time collaboration? Maybe we could become the next Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker and we get to make films together forever. I’m excited to discover all of that. It feels like I’ve finally found a community, that I’ve found a family.”