Director Amrou Al-Kadhi Signs to Knucklehead

Knucklehead announces the UK and Amsterdam signing of British-Iraqi director Amrou Al-Kadhi for commercials and music videos, as their debut feature 'Layla' is distributed in the UK by Curzon Films from the 22nd of November, and they’re long-listed for best debut director at the BIFAs.

'Layla' (Film4, BFI, Fox Cub Films, Significant Pictures) opened Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and is currently playing as part the London Film Festival. It was described by Attitude Magazine as, “A love letter to drag queens…joyous to watch”**** 

Amrou has also written and directed four short films which have screened at BAFTA and Oscar-qualifying festivals globally: 'Anemone' (BBC Films and Film London), 'Run(a)way Arab', (Peccadillo Pictures and Revry), 'Victoria Sin', (NOWNESS, Revry), and 'CLASH' (BBC4 Broadcast, BFI, PBS, Revry).

As a writer and performer, Amrou has several TV shows in development, including the adaption of their book, 'Life as a Unicorn', in development with Universal Studios in the US. They are also the writer and creator of 'Terms & Conditions', a daring 30-minute drama about polyamorous relationships and murder with South of the River Pictures, Olivia Coleman and Ed Sinclair’s production company. Amrou has also written for established TV shows including 'Hollyoaks', the BAFTA-nominated 'Little America' for Apple TV (The Hollywood Reporter calling their episode, "one of the best 10 episodes of television in 2020”), and 'The Watch' (BBC America), and has recently worked with established writers including Russell T Davies and Emerald Fennell. 

Amrou is an established drag performer in the UK and US - their debut drag solo show, 'Glamrou: From Quran to Queen', has toured Vault Festival, the Soho Theatre, and has just finished a US tour. It has performed a number of sold out runs, and received a glowing 4* review from The Guardian. They will be performing a new show at Soho Theatre from 20th – 25th January 2024. 

Their debut book, a memoir about queer intersectionality with 4th Estate (Harper Collins) - 'Life as a Unicorn: A Journey from Shame to Pride, and Everything In Between' is the winner of a Somerset Maugham Award from the Society of Authors and won the 2020 Polari First Book Prize. As a freelance writer for various publications, they write a quarterly column for Attitude Magazine, and contribute regularly to The Guardian, I-D, Dazed, Gay Times and Independent Voices.

Professional acting credits include 'American Horror Stories S3' (Ryan Murphy, FX), 'Alan Partridge' (BBC), 'Back to Black' (Focus Features), 'Until I Kill You' (ITV), 'Mr Loverman' (BBC Drama), 'Venom 2' (Marvel), 'Carnival Row' (Amazon Studios), 'Christopher Robin' (Disney), 'The Souvenir 2' (Joanna Hogg), 'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie' (BBC Films). 

Knucklehead’s Tim Katz commented, “Amrou is the quintessential polymath. A brilliant performance director, acclaimed script writer, published author and celebrated actor. Now their debut feature 'Layla' is making huge waves it really feels like the perfect time for them to introduce them to our part of the industry”

Amrou Al-Kadhi added, "I'm totally tickled silly to be joining the phenomenal gang at Knucklehead. They have such an amazing track record of ushering filmmakers into the world of commercials and music videos. I'm so excited about this next chapter of my career, and of the chance to bring my visual and artistic sensibilities as a filmmaker into this dynamic world of content, and very grateful to have the guidance and wisdom of Knucklehead. I can't wait for all our iconic collaborations together. I'm a very lucky queen!"