Open to opportunities

Ankit Ojha

@ankitojha

Message

I’m a film critic and editor who crafts in-depth stories that engage audiences and drive conversation.

United Arab Emirates

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking to join a newsroom, studio, or media team where thoughtful film storytelling matters—combining editing, criticism, and production experience. I want to collaborate on high-quality content, grow audience engagement, and deliver consistent, deadline-ready work.

I’m an experienced editor and film critic with a bachelor’s degree in Film Production from SAE Institute Dubai, bringing over a decade of expertise in crafting engaging articles and managing creative projects. I founded CinemaElite.com in 2013, building it into a go-to movie review blog focused on in-depth analysis rather than simple ratings. My work has been recognized as Best Asian Blogger at the Masala! Awards.

I’ve also contributed editorially and creatively across major outlets—producing, editing, and refining content with clarity and impact. At The National News, I wrote Hindi-language and regional film reviews and researched feature articles, including in-depth interviews with filmmakers and actors. At Empire Magazine Arabia, I managed previews and reviews for Indian Hindi-language films and shaped editorial voice through occasional op-eds.

On the production side, I’ve delivered content end-to-end, from promo concepts to post-production execution. I’ve produced highly effective promotional promos (including a Fox International Channels 30-second promo) and supported video workflows as a Video Editor/DoP Dubai, handling lighting, camera settings, and training new team members. I bring a strong mix of storytelling, editing discipline, and project reliability—always aiming for high-quality work that inspires audiences.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Film Critic & Features Contributor

Current

The National News

Feb 2024 - Present (2 years 4 months)

Developed Hindi-language and regional film reviews and feature articles that helped readers discover new movies and appreciate diverse storytelling in Indian cinema. Conducted filmmaker/actor interviews and collaborated with editors to refine content for clarity and audience engagement across social media.

Film Reviewing Feature Writing Filmmaker actor interviews Research and fact checking Social media content engagement Audience community building Storytelling analysis Hindi and regional cinema coverage Editorial Collaboration

Current

Film Critic & Editor in Chief

Current

Cinema Elite

Dec 2023 - Present (2 years 6 months)

Founded and developed a movie blog featuring in-depth reviews for audiences seeking detailed film insights. Curated diverse cinema content, built an engaged community of film enthusiasts, and earned recognition at the Masala! Awards for Best Asian Blogger (Popular Choice).

Content Strategy Community Engagement Editorial Leadership Content Curation In depth review writing Audience focused storytelling Editorial quality control

Current

Video Editor & DoP

Current

Stream Works DMCC

Jul 2019 - Present (6 years 11 months)

Shot and edited films to deliver high-quality visual storytelling that engaged audiences. Managed studio operations, collaborated with directors and producers, and optimized lighting, camera settings, and post-production workflows to improve production efficiency.

Film Editing Visual Storytelling Directed Photography Studio Operations Lighting Setup Camera Settings Post Production Workflow Optimization Creative Direction team training Team Training

Freelance News Writer

ITP Media Group

May 2019 - Dec 2019 (7 months)

Freelanced as a news writer for Construction Week Middle East, delivering timely industry stories to strengthen the publication’s online presence. Contributed articles to ITP.net and wrote features for Network Middle East, along with occasional Hindi-language film reviews for Masala!.

News Writing Feature Writing Editorial Writing Online Publishing Film Criticism

Film Critic

Empire Magazine Arabia

Oct 2015 - Nov 2017 (2 years 1 month)

Managed the writing of previews and reviews for Indian Hindi-language films, which engaged readers and boosted magazine circulation.

Film Critic & Features Writer

ITP Media Group

Aug 2012 - Dec 2013 (1 year 4 months)

Freelanced as a news writer and film reviewer for Masala! to engage readers with insightful critique.

Editorial Collaboration News Writing Content Development Technology Journalism Film Criticism Editorial collaboration

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

SAE Institute Dubai

Bachelor of Arts, Film Production

2009 - 2011

Earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production, covering pre-production, production, and post-production across film, television, and music video.

The Indian High School

Grade 12, Commerce

2007 - 2009

Studied Commerce with a focus on Informatics Practices and graduated with high performance in the All India S.S.C. Examination, receiving a Student Excellence Award in Creative Writing, Dance, and Radio Jockeying.