Bilal Sami (writer)

Bilal Sami
Bilal Sami at the Hanging By A Wire Premier at Sundance Film Festival
Born (1978-05-23) May 23, 1978
Lahore, Pakistan
Alma materOhio University, USA LUMS, Pakistan
OccupationsProducer, Screenwriter, Director
Years active1999–present
Websitewww.bilalsami.com

Bilal Sami (born May 23, 1978) is a Pakistani producer, screenwriter[1] and filmmaker.[2][3][4][5] He was born in Lahore and is based in Brooklyn, New York City.[6][7]

Career

Television

Sami began his television career on the sitcom Jutt and Bond, airing on Indus Vision (2001–2004). His subsequent television work includes sitcoms Bhatti Ki Bas Ho Gai (2006), Yassu Panju Haar (2009), Yes Sir! (2010), and Dosti Aisa Nata (2009).

Sami was the Series Associate Producer for David Blaine: Do Not Attempt. The documentary series starring the David Blaine was made for Disney+ and National Geographic.

Film

Bilal is the writer and producer of the documentary film "Hanging by a Wire". The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2026[8] in the World Cinema Documentary competition.[9][10][11]

In 2019, Sami served as consulting producer for the crime thriller Laal Kabootar which was Pakistan's entry to the 92nd Oscars.

In 2016, Sami co-wrote and associate-produced Dobara Phir Se, a romantic drama directed by Mehreen Jabbar.[12][13]

Beside his TV and film career he also co-authored several songs with Zeb Bangash and Haniya Aslam of Zeb and Haniya, including Rona Chore Diya from the album Chup!,[14] Jaise Milein Ajnabi for Madras Cafe (2013)[15][16] and Mein Irada In Season 11 [17][18]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Credit Notes
2026 Hanging by a Wire Producer, Writer Documentary feature[19][20][21]
2025 Post Term Short Film[22]
2019 Laal Kabootar Consulting Producer Narrative feature[23]
2016 Dobara Phir Se Writer, Associate Producer Narrative feature[24][25][26]
2016 Dhun Director, Co-producer Documentary short[27]
2012 Panic Button Producer Short Film
2010 Off Course Writer, Director, Producer Narrative short

Television

Year Title Credit Platform
2025 David Blaine: Do Not Attempt Associate Producer Disney+[28]
2024 Behind The Scene Co-Producer Seattle's Tasveer Film Market Selected Projects[29][30][31]
2018 Coke Studio 11 Translator, Lyricist Multiple channels (Pakistan)
2017 The Flying Tent Translator, Lyricist YouTube
2011 Counter Terror NYC Crew National Geographic (USA)
2011 Blue Collar Dogs Crew Nat Geo Wild (USA)
2006–2008 Bhatti Ki Bas Ho Gai Writer, Actor, Producer ARY Digital (Pakistan)
2001 Jutt and Bond Actor (as Dr. Evil) Indus Vision[32]

References

  1. ↑ Alavi, Omair (2017-03-27). "How easy is screenwriting anyway? Pakistan's young film writers tell all". Images. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  2. ↑ "Mar 26, 2017 | WORDSMITHS OF CINEMA". Dawn Epaper. 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  3. ↑ "Stories they tell, will tell in coming months". The Nation. 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  4. ↑ "MASTERCLASS IN FILMMAKING WITH BILAL SAMI" (PDF). lums.edu.pk.
  5. ↑ "Reel Pakistan: - A Screen Studies Forum - Volume 4 - 2022" (PDF). reelpakistan.lums.edu.pk.
  6. ↑ Reilly, By Genevieve (2015-09-02). "Pakistani movie filmed in Fairfield". Connecticut Post. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  7. ↑ "Our Story - Bio". BILAL SAMI | Producer - Filmmaker. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  8. ↑ "Program Guide | 2026 Sundance Film Festival". festival.sundance.org. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  9. ↑ "'Hanging by a Wire' Review: Jaw-Dropping Footage Undermined by Generic Documentary Storytelling". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Hanging by a Wire: Nail-biting documentary delicately balances archive with fresh footage". www.reddigitalcinema.com. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  11. ↑ Hunter, Allan. "'Hanging By A Wire' review: Gripping docudrama follows real-life Himalayan cable car ordeal". Screen. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  12. ↑ "Mehreen Jabbar's 'Dobara Phir Se' will be a rom-com". Dawn. 2015-09-03. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  13. ↑ "You won't be able to stop singing Dobara Phir Se's title track!". Sunrise Radio - Official Site. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  14. ↑ "Playing a different tune". gulfnews.com. 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  15. ↑ Bhaduri, Abhijit. "Book Review: On The Wings Of Music". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  16. ↑ "With Haniya in Canada, Zeb crosses over to Bollywood". The Express Tribune. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  17. ↑ "In conversation with Haniya Aslam | Instep | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  18. ↑ "Run the world | Instep | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  19. ↑ Gibson, Bradley (2026-02-01). "Hanging on a Wire Featured, Reviews Film Threat". filmthreat.com. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  20. ↑ "Hanging by a Wire | 2026 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  21. ↑ Anderson, Justin. "Mindhouse, EverWonder Studio teaming on rescue doc "Hanging by a Wire"". Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  22. ↑ "Meet Saleem Gondal, One of the 5 Winners of the 4th Annual Focus Features & JetBlue Student Short Film Showcase". www.focusfeatures.com. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  23. ↑ Alavi, Omair (2019-02-20). "Laal Kabootar all set to fly on March 22". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  24. ↑ Hasan, Mehreen (2016-11-25). "Review: Dobara Phir Se is actually more than just a boy-meets-girl story". Images. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  25. ↑ NewsBytes. "Dobara Phir Se is 'a journey of love and friendship'". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  26. ↑ "ARY Films to release the first look of Dobara Phir Se". arydigital.tv. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  27. ↑ "RPM (Rounds per Minute) — Salt Arts". Salt Arts. Archived from the original on 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  28. ↑ "Cinematographer Brendan McGinty shares his vision and human experience over "Hanging By A Wire"". www.angenieux.com. January 22, 2026. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  29. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (2024-09-24). "Seattle's Tasveer Film Market Unveils 40+ South Asian Projects for Inaugural Edition (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  30. ↑ Sadarangani, Sunil (2024-10-25). "Major Collaborations Unveiled at Inaugural Tasveer Film Market; Pakistani Actor Fawad Khan to Headline Two Projects". American Kahani. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  31. ↑ "Fawad Khan Boards Two Projects, Guneet Monga Kapoor Joins Jahnu Barua Film at Tasveer Market (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 2024-10-22. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  32. ↑ Reviews, Mr Khan's (2020-09-30). "Mr. Khan's Review on Jutt and Bond (2001-4)". Mr. Khan's Reviews. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
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