Shamil Najafzadeh was born in Baku.

He studied at the Azim Azimzade Art School (1978), the Art Faculty of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (1984, Mikhail Bogdanov's workshop).

Since 1984, he has worked as an artist at the "Azerbaijanfilm" film studio. Since 1990, he has been working as a director. He worked as a producer at the AzTV "Sabah" Creative Union (1995-1998), artistic director at ABA TV (1999), and chief producer at ANS TV (2000).

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the South Caucasus Independent Filmmakers Association (IFASC), a representative of the International "Caucasian Documentary Film Network" in Azerbaijan, and the founder and director of the "Simurg" Studio.

He taught at the Directing Faculty of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts.

He is an Honored Artist (2006).

Shamil Najafzadeh currently lives in the United States. There, he founded the “Frame” film school for teenagers.

Director, production designer Shamil Najafzadeh is the son of production designer Kamil Najafzadeh.
Director, production designer Shamil Najafzadeh is the father of director Gunel Najafzadeh.