Taimur Khan
Taimur Khan is a creative filmmaker whose work spans over 15 years across documentary, drama, and commercial productions. His masterful storytelling has earned recognition at prestigious festivals including Sundance and Cannes, with films receiving the coveted Grierson Awards.
His journey in media production began in the early 1990s with music videos and television programs broadcast across Asia. This period coincided with a transformative era in Asian television, as the industry embraced new production techniques and global influences from independent television. His early experience producing and directing music videos gave him the canvas to experiment creatively, while weekly shows honed his skills in managing production schedules. These formative years laid the foundation for what would become a multifaceted career spanning creative, technical, and entrepreneurial ventures.
A pivotal moment came with his involvement in the historical drama “Jinnah,” starring Christopher Lee and Shashi Kapoor. As a location manager, Khan oversaw massive cinematic scenes involving thousands of extras, providing invaluable experience in large-scale production logistics. The sheer scope of this project prompted a strategic reassessment of his professional direction.
This reflection led to a move to the UK, where Khan joined YCTV (Youth Culture Television), helmed by Subrina Guinness. His role in shaping YCTV’s training programs, production, and post-production capabilities demonstrated his ability to merge creative and technical expertise while contributing significantly to organizational growth. After establishing himself at YCTV, Khan ventured into freelance work, opening doors to remarkable opportunities in the industry.
His work on Discovery’s “Quest for Gold” series led to documenting The Who’s comeback show at the Royal Albert Hall in 2002, capturing performances by legendary artists including Bryan Adams, Noel Gallagher, Kelly Jones, Nigel Kennedy, Eddie Vedder, and Paul Weller. In the early 2000s, Khan worked on flagship shows for CNN, including “Design360” and “Business Traveller.” This period coincided with revolutionary changes in production and post-production technology. Capitalizing on these advances, he expanded his creative repertoire to include drama, documentaries, commercials, promos and titles.
Khan’s editorial expertise has shaped compelling narratives on subjects ranging from true crime to social justice. He has worked with major broadcasters including Netflix, BBC, Channel 4, HBO, Discovery, Al Jazeera, Arte France,CNN, and The Economist. His notable projects include serving as series editor for “Johnny vs Amber” for Discovery+, “The Russell Murders” for Sky Documentaries, and numerous projects for The Economist.
In 2001, Khan collaborated with Tim MacMillan, a pioneer in special effects for the BBC. MacMillan, credited with creating the famous timeslice effect (also known as Bullet Time or the Matrix effect), found in Khan a collaborator who understood both technical innovation and creative application.
Entrepreneurial success came in 2002 with the establishment of a media post-production talent agency. Under Khan’s leadership, the agency grew from the ground up to achieve a £7 million-plus turnover, becoming the go-to resource for major broadcasters and independent production companies in the UK before his exit in 2012.
In 2004, he formed WIDEI Films at the historic Ealing Studios, where both the agency and the production company were based for over eight years. WIDEI’s portfolio included executive producing TV series for Sky Channel, producing current affairs stories at the G20 Summit in Nice, and numerous productions in the Middle East. Notable projects included “Mish Shabah Aflam” for the Royal Film Commission of Jordan, Channel 4 News’ investigation into antipsychotic drugs in children, title sequences for a Nike MTV show, and “Democracy in Flames,” which launched with sold-out screenings at the prestigious Frontline Club.
The challenges of managing multiple enterprises—simultaneously running two companies while handling TV and film projects—led to innovation in business management. Unable to find suitable digital solutions for managing 20-25 staff, hundreds of daily inquiries, and complex production workflows, Khan conceived what would become Skylightit.com.
Launched between 2009 and 2010, Skylight emerged as a pioneering collaboration SaaS platform built on cloud technology. The platform garnered attention from BBC News, The Guardian, Financial Times, and various media outlets. Khan’s leadership involved building development teams, creating product roadmaps, and establishing agile frameworks. With a micro team, he positioned Skylight as a serious market competitor before his exit in 2020.
In 2017, Khan worked with Outlier Ventures, leading two internal projects in fintech (Money Circles) and large-scale procurement, incorporating blockchain and ML/AI components. This work demonstrated his ability to apply technological innovation across different sectors.
Beyond his editing work, Taimur has made significant contributions to film education and development. He has conducted workshops for the Documentary Filmmakers Group, led training modules at Rose Bruford College, and played a key role at the Royal Film Commission of Jordan, where he helped develop emerging filmmaking talent.
Throughout his career, Khan has maintained diverse interests, including aviation—he holds an active pilot’s licence. His career exemplifies the modern creative technologist: someone who understands both the artistic and technical aspects of media production while possessing the entrepreneurial acumen to innovate.
A lifelong technologist—having started with home computers like the ZX Spectrum, VIC-20, and Commodore 64 back in the 1980s—Khan brings a deep-rooted passion for technology to his work. Since 2017, he has been involved with creative and digital projects that keep a pulse on AI and blockchain developments, bringing an interesting mix of skills to any team.
His journey from filmmaker to entrepreneur to technology innovator demonstrates the value of combining creative vision with technical expertise and business acumen. Today, Khan continues to explore the intersection of creativity, technology, and business innovation, applying his unique perspective and extensive experience to new projects and ventures. His career stands as a testament to the power of adaptability, continuous learning, and strategic thinking in the ever-evolving media landscape.