Omar Rashid

Omar Rashid is an art director, filmmaker and producer based in Florence. Born in Iraq, he has spent his career at the intersection of visual culture, media production and institutional communication.

In 2003 he founded Gold, a Florence-based creative venture that evolved from streetwear into a production company working across documentary film, virtual reality and cultural programming.

Through Gold he has produced and directed work screened at the Venice Film Festival, collaborating with artists including Elio Germano on immersive theatre and VR projects. His filmography spans documentary, virtual reality and institutional media, with work shown at major Italian and international festivals.

He has developed particular expertise in immersive media and 360° cinema, teaching at universities, digital arts centres and festivals across Italy, and has served as a juror at events including Middle East Now and the Florence Short Film Festival.

Within Cadini Group, Omar leads Media & Cultural Strategy — the division responsible for institutional communications, cultural partnerships and media relations across the group’s European and Arab-speaking markets. His work bridges the group’s operational track record with its cultural and civic presence, including initiatives such as the Scuola di Dialogo Fiorentina, AMSAI and UCAII.