Avesta Keshtmand is a British-Afghan director and writer living and working in London.

When thinking about stories, and how she wants them to look and sound, Avesta’s perspective is powered by a world of influences. Turn-of-the-millennium Bollywood, handheld grime freestyle videos, archival fashion editorials – all processed through a kind of daydream-filter. It’s a filter that informs her process as a writer, crafting eye-level portraits of disadvantaged communities which are unbound by the social-realist instinct to centre hardship and struggle. Of course naturalism provides humanity, but so does magic, so does playfulness, so does joy.

Through music videos for the likes of Maisie Peters, FLO and Mrley, Avesta has created playgrounds for the artists she works with, carefully weaving storylines into performance and choreography. More recently, she’s directed a mini-series of campaigns for Nike, working closely with protagonists to shine a light on their world with sensitivity and beauty.

Avesta hopes to make work you’ll want to hold on to tightly – like her mum’s rice, the wares from her community knitting group and the tiny revelations she’s experienced at Tanztheater class. These are things worth looking after, and things worth sharing.

Clients include; Nike [Berlin, Running, Well Collective], Levi’s, Stone Island, Atlantic Records, Polydor Records, Island Records, Warp Records, Crack Magazine, AEG Presents; All Points East, British Summer Time Hyde Park, Plank Hardware, End Clothing, 

Part of Aluna Labs 2024 for debut feature ‘Tilwi Soon’ 
Official Selection: From The Silver Screen 2024 for ‘Soft Furnishings’
Girls in Film x BFI Network Mentorship 2020: mentored by Sorcha Bacon for ‘Bibi’
Three Minutes Director 2020 by Groundwork Burberry and BFI Network