At AZ Studio, we’re proud to have delivered the colour grade and finishing for Lefter — a major Netflix feature film produced by Ark Productions and TAFF Pictures.
The project was a remarkable collaboration between Türkiye and Australia, showcasing the power of remote post-production and the creative flexibility of modern colour workflows.
Led by senior colourist Hootan Haghshenas CSI, Lefter was a VFX-heavy feature with more than 900 visual effects shots, making precision, consistency, and colour management critical throughout the process.
The film’s post-production was executed through a fully remote pipeline designed for both artistic control and technical accuracy.
AZ Studio handled the HDR Dolby Vision master grade and SDR trim pass, ensuring perfect tone mapping across multiple delivery formats and devices.
The workflow integrated:
DaVinci Resolve Studio as the primary grading and finishing platform
Colorfront’s advanced colour management tools for metadata handling, reference review, and calibration accuracy
Netflix Content Hub as the secure online cloud storage and delivery backbone
Imaj Post Production (Istanbul) for final IMF assembly and QC delivery
This cross-continental collaboration demonstrated the efficiency of combining local expertise with global infrastructure — providing creative freedom while meeting Netflix’s strict delivery specifications.
From the start, the creative brief demanded a cinematic realism grounded in emotion, blending stylised lighting with natural textures.
Hootan Haghshenas CSI developed a custom show LUT and look pipeline early in the process, working closely with the DOP Jean Paul Seresin to preserve on-set intent
while enhancing the film’s visual atmosphere.
The look development process included:
ACEScct workflow for consistent scene-referred grading and precise VFX integration
Dynamic contrast mapping to retain detail across HDR highlights and deep shadows
Targeted colour separation to differentiate environments and emotional tones
Custom grain and halation passes to introduce subtle filmic depth, particularly in dramatic sequences
Each sequence was graded with careful attention to skin tone integrity, highlight texture, and environmental continuity — ensuring that despite extensive compositing and CG augmentation, the final image remained organic and immersive.
With over 900 VFX shots, maintaining a seamless visual flow between live-action and composited scenes was essential.
AZ Studio’s grading team used versioned EXRs and graded references to keep communication fluid between colour, VFX, and finishing teams across time zones.
Regular HDR/SDR review sessions were held via calibrated remote monitors, allowing the director and cinematographer to sign off on key sequences in real time. This agile workflow reduced review cycles and maintained visual consistency across multiple delivery formats.
The master grade was completed in HDR Dolby Vision, using Netflix’s internal QC parameters and metadata mapping standards.
Following HDR approval, an SDR trim pass was executed to ensure the same emotional impact and luminance balance on standard dynamic range displays.
The final IMF package was assembled and quality-checked at Imaj Post Production in Istanbul, marking the culmination of a truly international post-production effort.
“Lefter was one of those projects that truly tested every aspect of remote collaboration — from VFX integration to HDR delivery,” says Hootan Haghshenas CSI.
“What made it rewarding was the synergy between creative teams across different countries. The look of the film evolved through constant visual dialogue, and that’s something we’re deeply proud of at AZ Studio.”
Based in Melbourne, AZ Studio (AZMelbourne.au Pty Ltd) is a creative production and post-production house specialising in HDR/SDR colour grading, finishing, and international remote workflows for film and television.
