BBC interview 2024 about my latest film, Looking For Zeeshan.
Synopsis:
After the unexpected passing of his Geordie friend, film director Yacine Helali begins a quest to understand why Zeeshan took his own life.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hx88j1
Film Summary
"Looking for Zeeshan" is an intimate, deeply personal documentary that follows director Yacine Helali's journey to understand why his friend and former filmmaking student, Zeeshan, took his own life. The film weaves together raw conversations with Zeeshan's London friends and colleagues, personal memories, and poignant archival material to create a moving portrait of a young creative whose struggles remained largely invisible until it was too late.
The documentary begins with Yacine reflecting on his first meeting with Zeeshan in 2013, when the then 18-year-old Newcastle native attended a filmmaking workshop Yacine was leading. Their connection was immediate, with Zeeshan showing a natural enthusiasm for filmmaking that would later develop into a promising career. Years later, their paths diverged as Zeeshan moved to London to pursue opportunities in the film industry, where he found success working on high-profile productions for Netflix, Apple TV, and even alongside stars like Scarlett Johansson.
Through intimate conversations with those closest to Zeeshan – including his friend Chico who helped him break into the industry, and Natashka, who became a maternal figure in his London life – the film pieces together the complex reality behind Zeeshan's outwardly successful and happy appearance. Friends describe a vibrant, funny, caring young man with a passion for travel, food, and fireworks; a typical "Geordie character" with a big heart and distinctive humor who was always checking in on others.
The documentary subtly explores the additional challenges Zeeshan faced as an outsider in the film industry – often the only brown, Muslim, bearded crew member on set, with his distinctive Northern English accent marking him as different in London's film production world. These experiences highlight the industry's persistent lack of diversity and the invisible emotional labor required of those who don't fit the traditional mold, adding another layer of pressure to an already demanding profession.
As the narrative unfolds, we learn of Zeeshan's relationship with the love of his life, a period of profound happiness, and the subsequent breakup that coincided with the onset of his depression. The film doesn't shy away from examining the systemic failures that contributed to Zeeshan's death, particularly within the UK's mental healthcare system. Despite reaching out for help and being prescribed medication, Zeeshan fell through the cracks of a stretched NHS, with therapy unavailable and crucial follow-up appointments scheduled too late.
Particularly moving are moments featuring Zeeshan's own voice through saved voicemails, where he speaks candidly about his emotional struggles, medication, and attempts to cope. These intimate artifacts create a haunting reminder of the person at the center of this story.
"Looking for Zeeshan" transcends being merely a memorial to become a thoughtful exploration of pressing social issues: the unique pressures faced by young creatives in demanding industries; the challenges of building support networks away from home; cultural silences around mental health, particularly in immigrant and Muslim communities; and the difficulty of recognizing depression in those who excel at masking their pain.
In its final moments, the film transforms grief into a call for connection and vigilance. Through tearful reflections, Zeeshan's friends emphasize the importance of insistent communication and checking in—not accepting a simple "I'm fine" when someone retreats. The documentary stands as both a loving tribute to a life cut short and an urgent reminder of our collective responsibility to truly see one another.
Running at 31 minutes, "Looking for Zeeshan" delivers a powerful emotional impact through its observational cinéma vérité style, allowing authentic moments to unfold naturally on camera while addressing mental health, the film industry, cultural identity, and the universal experience of loss with sensitivity and depth.