about

Hi — I’m Zaferhan (they/them). 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 brand 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 Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, and in 2024 I was selected as a Rockwood Documentary Leaders Fellow, grounding my practice in documentary storytelling and social impact.

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 portrait and fashion work for artists, writers, academics, and creatives in moments of transition or reinvention. 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.

photograph courtesy of Camille Farrah Lenain.

If you’d like to collaborate, book a session, or talk through a new idea, I’m always reachable at hello@zaferhan.com.