Ali Shifau (born 19 May 1977) is a Maldivian film director, cinematographer and editor. One of the most successful filmmakers in Maldivian Cinema, Shifau is the recipient of a number of awards, including seven Gaumee Film Awards, and four Maldives Film Awards. In 2018, the Government of Maldives honoured him with the National Award of Recognition.
Career Ali Shifau collaborated with Moomin Fuad to direct the critically appreciated crime film Heylaa (2006) featuring a cast of Ismail Rasheed, Ahmed Mauroof, Zeenath Abbas, Lufshan Shakeeb and Abdulla Muaz. The film narrates the story of a fourteen year old ambitious boy who finds himself unknowingly being involved in the smuggling of a revolver. Apart from directing the film, Shifau worked as the editor and cinematographer, marking it as the first Maldivian film to be shot in high-definition digital video. Though the film received positive reviews from critics, it was a commercial failure. Shifau opined that its commercial status was a result of casting "not very prominent" faces in the film and the "film-goers were not ready to accept the genre" at the time of its release. Ahmed Nadheem from Haveeru praised the narration and direction; "The film is embroiled in a realistic story which has sensible characters who are emotive under the helm of two great leaders serving as directors". At the 5th Gaumee Film Awards ceremony, Shifau won Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction award.
Three year later, the duo reunited for a suspense thriller Happy Birthday (2009) which narrates the story of a simple man who receives a call on his birthday informing him that his wife and son have been kidnapped, only to be returned for a ransom. The film was a commercial failure, despite the positive response from the critics. Winning five Gaumee Film Awards and twelve Maldives Film Awards, the film was also screened at the Venice Film Festival. The film earned him several accolades including his first Gaumee Film Award for Best Editing.
After being involved in two art films, Shifau paced his direction more into a commercial phase with family drama Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa (2010) starring an ensemble cast including Yoosuf Shafeeu, Niuma Mohamed, Ali Seezan, Mohamed Manik and Ravee Farooq. The film showcases discrimination against the islanders, family revenge and fatherhood responsibilities. It received a positive response from critics while his direction and use of a "unique approach in presenting the concept to the romance-starved Maldivian audience" was particularly noted and was believed to be a "huge improvement" compared to the recent Maldivian films. Despite the commercial failure for his previous two films, Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa was declared a commercial success. He then directed the psychological romantic thriller Zaharu (2011) starring Ali Seezan, Niuma Mohamed and Sheela Najeeb. The film centers on a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end and becomes obsessed with him. The film was inspired from Adrian Lyne-directed American psychological erotic thriller film Fatal Attraction (1987). Upon release it received a mixed response from critics and was declared a "flop" at the box office.
In 2013, Ali Shifau directed the horror film Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D which serves as a prequel to Fathis Handhuvaru (1997) starring Reeko Moosa Manik and Niuma Mohamed in lead roles. It was based on a story by Ibrahim Waheed, Jinaa: Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun (2009), which itself is a prequel to the story Fathishandhuvaru (1996) written by himself which was later adapted to a film by the same name in 1997. The film was marketed as being the first 3D release for a Maldivian film and the first release derived from a spin-off. Upon release the film received generally negative reviews from critics. Ahmed Nadheem from Haveeru Daily criticized the screenplay for the lack of "amusement" and the "abrupt rush" in the story-line with "flaws in the script". He concluded the review by praising the efforts put into the visual effects and addressing the "dislike of the film in comparison to Fathis Handhuvaru". Fathimath Zaina from Vnews echoed similar sentiments and mentioned: "It brings a good opportunity for Maldivians to experience a Dhivehi film in 3D, however it is a disappointment as a film overall. It does not bring justice to the genre it represents and so does the same to the story it's based on". Despite the negative reviews, at the 7th Gaumee Film Awards he was nominated in the Best Director award category.
Shhifau's next release was the romantic film Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen (2015) starring Mohamed Jumayyil and Mariyam Majudha. The film was declared as the highest grossing Maldivian film of the year, and was also a critical success. The collaboration was repeated with his next release, the romantic comedy Vaashey Mashaa Ekee (2016). His work was positively mentioned in the reviews, Ahmed Nadheem from Avas called it a "masterful creation by Shifau" and wrote: "Till this point, it was perceived that Shifau's talent was vanished with Heylaa, since all the films post his debut direction, his work is average at best". The film emerged as one of the highest-grossing films of the year. The film fetched him his first Gaumee Film Award for Best Director and Best Editor.
The following year, he released another romantic comedy film Mee Loaybakee (2017) starring Mohamed Jumayyil alongside Mariyam Azza. The film emerged as one of the highest grossing Maldivian films of 2017. This was followed by a family drama Vakin Loabin (2018), marking his fourth collaboration with Mohamed Jumayyil and his third collaboration with Mariyam Majudha. The film tells a story of a young couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved. Upon release, the film met with a positive response from critics—specifically praising the screenplay for toning down its melodrama and breaking from the stereotypes of its genre—and was a commercial success. In a pre-premier review from Raajje.mv, Ismail Naail Nasheed favored the character development and minimised use of melodrama in the film while praising Shifau's direction.
Later during the year, first Maldivian anthology film was released which credited Shifau as the director of the segment titled Foshi which focuses on the impact on a couple's life due to the home use of an abortion drug. The project was filmed in 2013 and digitally released six years later due to several delays in post-production, where the producer of the film criticizes Farooq for "failing" to complete his segment during the stipulated time period took over the post-production.
Filmography Feature film Year Title Director Editor Camera 2006 Heylaa 2009 Happy Birthday 2010 Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa 2011 Zaharu 2013 Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D 2013 Dhilakani 2014 Hulhudhaan 2015 Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen 2015 Mikoe Bappa Baey Baey 2016 Vaashey Mashaa Ekee 2017 Mee Loaybakee 2018 Vakin Loabin 2019 Maamui 2023 Hindhukolheh 2023 November 2024Fureytha 2024Bibii 2025Alifaan
Television and short films Year Title Director Editor Camera Notes 2006 Dhafaraa 2007 Reyfanaa 2007 Badi Edhuru Short film 2008 Ummeedh Short film 2008 Inthihaa 2008 Yaasmeen 2008 FB! 2008 Asarugaa 2009 Silsilaa 2011 Naamaan 2012 Voodoo Short film 2014 Kashfu Short film 2019 Hatharu Halha The segment Foshi 2020 Dhauvathu Short film 2020 Anguru Short film 2021Rumi á Jannat Web series; 15 episodes 2021 Giritee Loabi Web series; 20 episodes 2022–2024 Dark Rain Chronicles Web series; 15 episodes 2024–2025 Roaleemay Web series; 15 episodes 2025 Feshumaai Nimun Web series; 10 episodes 2025 Moosun Web series; 10 episodes
Accolades Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2008 5th Gaumee Film Awards Best Story Heylaa Best Cinematography Heylaa Best Art Direction Heylaa (Shared with Ali Shifau) 2011 1st Maldives Film Awards Best Editing Happy Birthday Best Art Direction Happy Birthday (Shared with Moomin Fuad) Best Sound Editing Happy Birthday Best Sound Mixing Happy Birthday (Shared with Moomin Fuad) 2014 3rd Maldives Film Awards Best Editing Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D Best Art Direction Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D (Shared with Mohamed Ali) Best Sound Editing Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D Best Sound Mixing Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D Best Editing - Short film Voodoo 2015 6th Gaumee Film Awards Best Editing Happy Birthday Best Cinematography Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa Best Art Direction Happy Birthday (Shared with Moomin Fuad, Mohamed Ali) Dhin Veynuge Hithaamaigaa (Shared with Mohamed Ali) 2016 7th Gaumee Film Awards Best Director Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D Best Editing Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D Best Sound Editing Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D Best Sound Mixing Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D Best Art Direction Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D (Shared with Mohamed Ali) 2017 8th Gaumee Film AwardsBest Director Vaashey Mashaa Ekee Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen Best Director - Short film Voodoo Kashfu Best Editing Vaashey Mashaa Ekee Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen Best Editing - Short film Voodoo Kashfu (Shared with Ahmed Shakir) Best Cinematography Hulhudhaan (Shared with Ahmed Sinan) Vaashey Mashaa Ekee (Shared with Ahmed Sinan) Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen (Shared with Ahmed Sinan) Mikoe Bappa Baey Baey Voodoo Kashfu Best Sound Editing Vaashey Mashaa Ekee Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen (Shared with Mohamed Ikram) Best Art Direction Vaashey Mashaa Ekee (Shared with Mohamed Ali) Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen (Shared with Mohamed Ali) Mikoe Bappa Baey Baey (Shared with Mohamed Ali, Ravee Farooq) 2018 National Award of Recognition Performing Arts - Film direction 2019 9th Gaumee Film Awards Best Director Vakin Loabin Best Art Direction Vakin Loabin (Shared with Mohamed Ali and Aishath Fuad Thaufeeq) Best Sound Design Vakin Loabin 2025 1st MSPA Film Awards Best Director Vakin Loabin Maamui Best Editor Maamui Vakin Loabin Best Cinematographer Maamui (Shared with Ahmed Sinan) November (Shared with Ahmed Sinan) Best Sound Engineer Goh Raalhu (Shared with Ahmed Sinan) Hindhukolheh November 5th Karnataka International Film Festival Best Cinematography November (Shared with Ahmed Sinan)
References
External links