Elshan Heybat oglu Zeynalli was born on January 19, 1975, in the city of Sumgait. He finished secondary school in 1992. From 1993 to 1997 he studied in the Directing Faculty of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, in the creative workshop of People's Artist Eldar Guliyev, majoring in feature film and television film directing. During his studies he took part in the filming of several student training films and distinguished himself through his own works. He began his professional career as an assistant director at the Jafar Jabbarli Azerbaijanfilm studio. In 1998 he performed compulsory military service. From 1999 he worked as a film director at the "Azerbaijantelefilm" Creative Association of Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting CJSC, becoming the author of numerous documentary and feature television films made on state commission. From 2011 to 2013 he worked as a film director at the "Television Film Studio" of the ATV International channel, and from 2013 at the same studio under the CBC TV / CBCfilm channel. His work is centred mainly on Azerbaijani history, cultural heritage, national identity, prominent figures, and contemporary social themes. Also consistently active in theatre, Elshan Zeynalli has directed productions as a staging director at various state theatres. He is the screenwriter of a number of feature films and a laureate of the Republic Youth Prize. Since 2021 he has taught at the Baku State Vocational Education Centre for Culture and Craftsmanship. For many years he has also given individual master classes, and some of his students are graduates of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts. He is currently working on books on the subjects of "Structural Problems of Television Films" and "Future Development Prospects of Azerbaijani Television Cinema". He is a member of the Union of Cinematographers of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Guild of Professional Film Directors. He is married with two children. In 2025, for the feature film "Cold Sun", which he directed, he was awarded a special diploma "For the Successful Screen Portrayal of Multiculturalism and National-Spiritual Values" by the Organising Committee of the Azerbaijan Film Academy's "Golden Fairy" professional award.
