CINEMATIC LIGHTING FOR FILM SHOWREEL
CINEMATIC LIGHTING FOR GAMEPLAY SHOWREEL
Abdulrahman Moqbel
Lighting & Compositing Artist | CGI Director
A visionary Lighting Artist and CGI Director who fuses cinematic artistry with real-time technology to craft emotionally resonant visual worlds. With over eight years of experience spanning VFX film, animation, and immersive VR environments, he transforms light into storytelling — using illumination not just to reveal form, but to guide emotion, focus, and meaning within each frame.
From directing the award-nominated short film “Musnad” to teaching 3D Animation at Jeddah International University, Abdelrahman bridges research, art, and technology — merging creative direction with technical mastery. His work reflects a passion for building production pipelines that empower artists, optimizing workflows for real-time rendering, and creating high-quality immersive CGI experiences that leave a lasting impression long after the screen fades to black.
CREATURE SHOTS SHOWREEL
Creature CGI - Real Time
Semi - Realistic
Directing Musnad film (Trailer)
Discover how light, color, and story merged to bring AlUla’s heritage to life through “Musnad.”
Directed and Produced Films
A collection of short films exploring light, emotion, and human experience — from cultural storytelling in Musnad to reflective journeys in Reflection and Refraction, Was in 2020, At Nine O’Clock, and The Journey. Each film combines visual artistry with deep narrative meaning, merging cinematic lighting and CGI innovation to create immersive storytelling worlds.
MUSNAD (2024)
A poetic CGI short inspired by AlUla’s heritage — blending light, sound, and storytelling to explore memory and myth through cinematic realism.
REFLECTION AND REFRACTION (2019)
A visual meditation on perception and emotion, using light as a metaphor to explore the thin boundary between reality and illusion.
WAS IN 2020 (2020)
A creative reflection on the global pause of 2020 — portraying human resilience and isolation through surreal digital imagery.
AT NINE O’CLOCK (2018)
A psychological short film that dives into the inner struggles of identity and fear, where every self faces its own monster.
THE JOURNEY (2017)
A heartfelt story about growth and change — capturing the emotional distance between dreams and the paths we take to reach them.
Learn More
Professional Summary
• 8+ years of CGI and animation experience, spanning short films, Visual Production, and real-time production
• Championing cinematic storytelling through light, color, and visual composition
• Director and Lighting Artist with hands-on experience in Unreal Engine, Maya, Arnold, and Nuke
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality visual storytelling projects
• Deep understanding of lighting pipelines, rendering optimization, and compositing integration
• Creator of Musnad — a CGI short film merging cultural heritage with immersive design
• Experienced lecturer in CGI and 3D animation, shaping the next generation of digital artists
• Strong foundation in traditional art, cinematography, and creative direction
• Passionate, collaborative, and driven by innovation at the intersection of art and technology
Notable Highlights
• Directed Musnad (2024), a research-driven CGI short film that transformed Saudi heritage into a visual narrative blending culture, emotion, and technology.
• Managed the creative workflow at Ilhamist Studio, overseeing all stages of production — from concept development to post-production — while coordinating international teams.
• Produced and visually led multiple short films (Reflection and Refraction, Was in 2020, At Nine O’Clock, The Journey) that explore human experience through cinematic storytelling.
• Designed efficient real-time production pipelines, integrating lighting, compositing, and rendering systems to enhance performance and visual fidelity.
• Collaborated on cultural innovation projects that connect academic research with digital art, advancing visual storytelling across CGI and immersive media.
• Spearheaded the technical direction of lighting and compositing workflows adopted in various studio projects and academic environments.
• Recognized for creating visual experiences that merge artistic depth with technical mastery — setting a distinctive standard in modern CGI filmmaking.
Awards
MUSNAD FILM (2024)
Awards
🏆 Golden Palm Award – Best Debut Animation — Saudi Film Festival, Saudi Arabia (May 2024)
🏆 Best CGI Short Film – Winner — Al Ain Film Festival, United Arab Emirates (February 2025)
Official Selections
🎬 Lunatico! Short Film Contest — Italy (May 2025)
🎬 Universal Film Festival — United States (July 2024)
REFLECTION AND REFRACTION FILM (2019)
Awards
🏆 Award Winner – Animated Expressions Expo — United States (August 2023)
🏆 Award Winner – Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions (Hosted by @LiftOffGlobalNetwork) — United Kingdom (January 2021)
🏆 Award Winner – Cinevoyage International Film Festival — India (February 2021)
🏆 Award Winner – First-Time Filmmaker Sessions (Volume 13) — United Kingdom (January 2021)
🏆 Award Winner – Al Thaqalayn Film Festival — Iran (December 2020)
Official Selections
🎬 Filmmaker Sessions Volume 12 — United Kingdom (January 2021)
🎬 International iSHORTZ Platform Festival — India (Quarter-Finalist, July 2021)
WAS IN 2020 FILM (2020)
Awards
🏆 Award Winner – Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions (Hosted by @LiftOffGlobalNetwork) — United Kingdom (June 2023)
Official Selections
🎬 Filmmaker Sessions Volume 12 — United Kingdom (June 2023)
The full stage of the 10th Saudi Film Festival (2024), capturing filmmakers and award recipients during the closing ceremony where Musnad received the Golden Palm Award for Best Debut Animation.
Abdulrahman Moqbel standing with festival officials while receiving the Golden Palm Award for Best Debut Animation at the Saudi Film Festival 2024, recognizing excellence in direction and visual storytelling.
PUBLICATIONS
2024 — Gulf Creative Media Research Series
Animation Genres in the Gulf Region: Cultural Identity, Market Trends, and Audience Evolution
2023 — Master’s Thesis, Sunway University
Directing the Viewer’s Attention Through Light, Sound, and Color: The Making of “Musnad”
2021 — Sunway University Creative Showcase
Directing the Viewer’s Attention in Virtual Reality: Techniques and Interactive Case Studies
2020 — Sunway University Research Journal
Adorno and Horkheimer: Media Theory in the Age of Netflix and Middle Eastern Representation
SPECIALTIES
Pre-Production & Concept Development
• Cinematic Lighting Direction — designing lighting for film, animation, and real-time CGI environments.
• Lighting Research & Storytelling — studying light behavior, color theory, and emotional impact on audience perception.
• Visual Language Design — defining artistic style and heritage-inspired storytelling tone.
Production & Lighting Execution
• Unreal Engine Lighting Optimization — real-time rendering for VR, AR, and virtual production workflows.
• Environment Lighting — crafting interior, exterior, and atmospheric setups for immersive realism.
• Dynamic Light Rig Creation — HDR setups, reflections, exposure balance, and tone control.
• Color & Exposure Control — LUT grading, HDR calibration, and light-to-camera consistency.
• Cultural & Narrative Lighting Design — integrating cultural context and narrative emotion through lighting theory.
Post-Production & Compositing
• Compositing & Visual Integration — blending CGI and real footage using Nuke, Arnold, and advanced compositing tools.
• CGI Film Direction & Production — managing short films and immersive media projects from concept to completion.
• Creative Supervision — guiding projects from early ideation to final composited output.
Pipeline & Team Collaboration
• Pipeline Management — coordinating modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering workflows for efficient production.
• Technical Workflow Documentation — building standardized and scalable lighting systems.
• Creative Team Leadership — directing artists, animators, and compositors in collaborative environments.
• Education & Curriculum Development — teaching 3D animation, lighting, and compositing at academic institutions.
• Artistic & Technical Balance — merging creative vision with technical precision for optimized performance.
Software
Pre-Production & Concept Design
• Adobe Photoshop – concept art, matte painting, and texture design
• HDR Light Studio – light planning and scene mood setup
• SpeedTree / Megascans / Quixel Bridge – environment asset integration
Modeling & Texturing
• Autodesk Maya – modeling, UV layout, and look development
• ZBrush – sculpting and high-resolution detailing
• Substance Painter / Designer – PBR material creation and surface definition
Lighting & Rendering
• Unreal Engine 4 & 5 – real-time lighting, Sequencer, and Lumen rendering
• Arnold Renderer – physically based rendering for cinematic visuals
• Unreal Editor – scene assembly, dynamic light rigs, and exposure control
Compositing & Post-Production
• Nuke – multi-layer compositing and VFX integration
• DaVinci Resolve – color grading, HDR tone control, and delivery
• After Effects / Premiere Pro – editing, motion graphics, and finishing
Pipeline, Management & Collaboration
• ShotGrid / Shotgun – production tracking and asset management
• Jira / Trello – team coordination and task scheduling
• Microsoft Office / Google Workspace – documentation and workflow support