Akif Farooqui

Profile

Interdisciplinary media artist and filmmaker with hands-on experience in film production, sound recording, photography, and exhibition curation. Background spans museum exhibitions, cultural events, branded content, and independent film. Currently completing an MA in International Media Cultural Work in Germany.

Experience

Sound Recordist · Editor · Curatorial Assistant 06 – 12 / 2025

20 Years of the Darmstadt Music Prize — Centralstation, Darmstadt

Recorded and edited audio features for Music Prize awardees
Supported curatorial development of a hybrid exhibition merging physical objects and digital media
Implemented QR-based digital storytelling for audience interaction
Assisted with exhibition setup, coordination, and documentation

Co-Curator · Media Art Assistant 06 – 07 / 2025

Subject: Résumés — Museum Schloss Fechenbach, Dieburg

Co-curated an international media art exhibition featuring 13 interdisciplinary works
Assisted in selection, installation, and technical setup of time-based and digital media
Coordinated exhibition layout, visitor experience, and artist-institution mediation

Founder & Creative Director 2020 – Present

Coffee & Cheese Studio — Pakistan (Freelance)

Directed and produced short films, documentaries, music videos, and photography projects
Managed full production workflows from concept to post-production

Co-Founder & Producer 2022 – 2024

ScapeGoat Films and Media — Pakistan

Produced branded audiovisual content for international clients including Infinix, Interloop, and Rastah
Coordinated pre-production, shoots, and post-production delivery across creative teams

Co-Founder & Managing Director 2022 – Present

Merriment — Pakistan (Remote)

Managed daily operations, budgeting, and production planning
Developed brand identity, visual content, and social media strategy

Education

MA — International Media Cultural Work

Hochschule Darmstadt — University of Applied Sciences

04 / 2025 – Present · Darmstadt, Germany

Media art, soundscape composition, exhibition curation, sustainability and inclusion in cultural institutions, socially engaged media practice

BFA — Film & Television Production

National College of Arts

2016 – 2020 · Lahore, Pakistan

Narrative filmmaking, experimental visual storytelling, film production

Academic Practice

Artist — Scenography, Sound & Technical Stage Design 2016 – 2018

National College of Arts · Theatre & Performance Productions, Lahore

Contributed as artist and technician across set design, spatial scenography, and live sound for Urdu and English theatre, mime, and music performances
Designed and built stage environments integrating visual, sonic, and structural elements into a unified performance space
Operated technical sound systems and coordinated stage logistics between performers, directors, and design teams

Skills

Film & Media

Scriptwriting · Cinematography · Photography · Sound Recording · Post-Production

Exhibition & Cultural

Exhibition Assistance · Media Art Installation · Curation Support · Museum Mediation · Set Design

Tools

DaVinci Resolve · Adobe Illustrator · Reaper · Final Draft · Canva · Miro · MS Office

Languages

Urdu Native

English Fluent

German Basic — A1

Availability

MA student in Germany — eligible for internship, Werkstudent, and part-time employment. Open to roles in photography, film, media production, museums, and cultural institutions.