about

Hi — I’m Zaferhan, most people call me Zaf.

I’m a queer, Turkish-American filmmaker, photographer, and creative strategist based in Los Angeles. Over the past two decades, I’ve worked across three continents and four languages, building a career at the intersection of film, media, visual storytelling, and cultural communications.

I’ve led marketing, communications, and event teams in arts and media organizations — most recently as Director of Marketing, Communications & Events at the International Documentary Association (IDA) from 2022 to 2025. Before that, I worked with the New Orleans Film Society, !f Istanbul, Discovery Channel Turkey, and zu PR & Communications. Those years deepened my commitment to community, equity, and creative work that moves culture forward.

I hold a B.Sc. in Engineering from Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. In 2024 I was selected as a Rockwood Documentary Leaders Fellow, grounding my practice in documentary storytelling and social impact. I am also a proud member of PATOIS Collective, a group dedicated to nurturing New Orleans’ human rights community, supporting the work of local organizers and organizations involved in these struggles, and providing a forum for artistic expression of local and international issues.

zaf is an alum of the new orleans flaming flagettes. they live in los ángeles (Tovaangar) with their cat Hé🐈ra.

If you’d like to collaborate, book a session, or talk through a new idea, drop me a line at hello at zaferhan dot com

What I Do?

Film Production

My primary focus is producing nonfiction and hybrid films — crafting stories that are intimate, intentional, and rooted in real lived experience. From development to release, I love building teams, shaping narrative, and supporting directors in bringing bold, human-centered stories to life.

Story & Impact Consulting

Alongside production, I work with filmmakers, festivals, and cultural organizations on project strategy, impact design, communications, and festival/distribution planning. I bring a systems-minded approach to help creators sharpen their vision, expand their reach, and make meaningful cultural impact.

Headshots & Portrait Photography

I also shoot portraits and editorial work for artists, writers, academics, and creatives. Using both digital and film (including my beloved Mamiya RB67), I create images that feel cinematic, grounded, and unmistakably you. If you want a headshot that works hard and still feels natural, I’ve got you. Contact me for the password to the booking page!