★ Golden Globe Fellow · 2023
Ajijul Hasan Surzo
Director · Director of Photography · Producer
Founder & CEO, Craft Films LA
Ajijul Hasan Surzo is a Los Angeles–based director, cinematographer, and producer whose work bridges Hollywood craft with global storytelling. A 2023 Golden Globe Fellow, Surzo has directed and shot narrative features, music videos, and commercial campaigns broadcast on NBC, FOX, and ABC — accumulating 26 festival awards across his catalog.
He founded Craft Films LA in 2016 to build a nationwide crew-dispatch production company — a dispatch model that pairs the creative strengths of Hollywood with underrepresented talent, serving brands, agencies, and independent filmmakers from a single Los Angeles base.
Known for his meticulous craft and innovative lensing, Surzo's work has screened at Mannheim, Kolkata International, Dadasaheb Phalke, Toronto International Women Film Festival, Golden Nugget, and more. He is a member of the Television Academy (Directors Peer Group), Film Independent, and Film Alliance.
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Golden Globe Fellow
10
Years as Founder
341+
Videos Delivered
26
Festival Awards
Selected Filmography
A selection of narrative, commercial, and documentary work — with roles as Director, DP, and Producer.
Short Film · 2023
Emily's Nightout
Director · Director of Photography
Produced as part of the Golden Globe Fellowship. A psychological thriller exploring human danger and resilience.
Feature Film · 2024
Bubbles
Cinematographer
Multiple international festival wins including Best Feature (Golden Nugget), Best Comedy (Mannheim), and Albori Soulplace Winner.
Feature Film · 2022
D
Director of Photography
Visually driven narrative feature prominently featured at the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).
TV Commercial Campaign · —
DTLA LAW PI
Producer · Director of Photography
National broadcast on NBC, FOX, ABC — significant audience reach and brand visibility.
For a complete list and detailed credits, visit his official IMDb page.
Short Film · 2025
Not My War
Director · Writer · Director of Photography
A powerful meditation on the cost of human life in war — a timely short following a soldier's moral reckoning amid the chaos of modern conflict.
PSA Short Film · In Production
Closed for Maintenance
Director · Director of Photography
A public-service short confronting school gun violence through the eyes of those who've stopped being able to pretend it won't happen to them.
Feature Film · In Development
Fields of Freedom
Director · Producer
A narrative feature raising awareness of human trafficking — grounded in survivor testimony, developed with trauma-informed advocacy partners.
Awards & Recognition
Festival honors across narrative, cinematography, and comedy categories.
Industry Leadership
As Founder & CEO of Craft Films LA, Surzo has built a nationwide crew-dispatch production company with a simple thesis: the creative strengths of Hollywood should be accessible to brands and filmmakers everywhere in the US — not just those with LA zip codes.
Under his leadership, Craft Films has:
- —Developed production models that pair Hollywood crew with underrepresented South Asian talent, creating cross-cultural work for brand, music, and feature projects.
- —Led the adoption of robotic motion-control technology in emerging markets, raising the ceiling on what independent productions can shoot.
- —Championed opportunities for underrepresented filmmakers through projects like Fields of Freedom, actively diversifying who gets to make work at scale.
- —Grew the catalog to 341+ delivered videos across narrative, commercial, music, documentary, and events — serving clients from startups to Fortune 500 brands.
Professional Memberships
- Television Academy (Directors Peer Group)
- Film Independent
- Film Alliance
Press & Recognition
- AP News
- USA News
- VoyageLA
- Digital Journal
- Daily Sun (Bangladesh)
- LA Wire
"True cinema transcends borders — it speaks to our shared humanity."
For Professional Inquiries
Work with Surzo & Craft Films
Craft Films LA
432 N Ardmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Email: surzo@thecraftfilms.com
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