 Ali-Shah is also credited as writer of the animated film "Papelucho y el Marciano" (2007), directed by the Chilean Alejandro Rojas Téllez.He has worked with film-makers Sir Derek Jacobi, Jodhi May, James Thierree, Niklas Ek, Izabella Miko, Michael Lonsdale and Andrej Acin.Arif Ali-Shah comes from a family line of Afghan nobles and teachers in the Sufi mystical tradition.