“It was the collective experience of being on a set and being with a crew and having to solve problems.”

It was the act of actually making films that drew Kapadia in. He went on to study at The Royal College of Art and made an impactful and critically acclaimed first feature film, The Warrior.

“How can I make work where I’m pretty much in control of the process? If that means I’ll have to make films for less money, I’ll make documentaries and I’m left alone more. They’re better films, and I’m happier.”

Kapadia is perhaps best known for his documentary films and for winning an Academy Award for Amy – a film that takes on the complex legacy of Amy Winehouse.

“Just work with brilliant people. Whatever you can do, be around brilliant people, then you’ll be all right.”

Asif Kapadia is an Academy Award, BAFTA, Grierson, and Grammy Award-winning film director, writer, and producer and one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation. Born in London, his family came to the UK from Gujarat, India in the 60s. His international, bilingual background, mixed with his rich, multicultural, working-class upbringing, motivated him to travel and inspired him to create world cinema. His work blurs genres from drama to documentary and beyond.

Kapadia is perhaps best known for his acclaimed trilogy of films AMY, SENNA, and DIEGO MARADONA on child geniuses and the price of fame. These groundbreaking documentary films work dramatically like fiction films but are constructed entirely from archive footage.

Kapadia most recently helmed CREATURE, a silent film that captures a dance performance choreographed by Akram Khan.

Asif Kapadia was interviewed by Helle Pagter in March 2023. The interview took place at Johan Borup College in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Camera: Jakob Solbakken

Edited and produced by: Helle Pagter

Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2023

Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond, Ny Carlsbergfondet and C.L. Davids Fond og Samling.