Film & Discussion
Sat., Feb. 11 - 7 p.m.
Red River Theatres
11 South Main Street, Concord
"Made in Pakistan" screening, followed by discussion and Q&A with filmmaker Ayesha Khan, part of the Arts Alliance of Northern NH's Caravanserai Program
Tickets: $10. Purchase at the door or online at www.redrivertheatres.org
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
In October 2007, Newsweek magazine labeled Pakistan "The Most Dangerous Country in the World." Made in Pakistan, a 60-minute documentary about four young, middle-class Pakistani professionals during the state of emergency declared that year by Pervez Musharraf, attempts to tell a different story about the country's past and future.
The film follows Mohsin Waraich, an aspiring politician; Rabia Aamir, a young mother, teacher and magazine editor; Tara Mehmood, an event manager working in the fashion industry; and Waleed Khalid, a practicing lawyer and devout Muslim. With honest and tender vignettes that offer a glimpse of their careers, personal lives, traditions, and political views, Made in Pakistan showcases the diversity of contemporary Pakistan and demonstrates this new generation's hope and direction for their homeland.
Winner of the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary at the 2009 South Asian International Film Festival in New York, Made in Pakistan provides Americans with a rare glimpse into life in Pakistan -- a country where politics, fashion, religion, debate and tradition intermingle -- and where a single definition of an Islamic State no longer holds true.
Made in Pakistan has been nominated for awards at six international film festivals. The Examiner called the documentary "ground breaking" and the New York Times said that it "proved most illuminating about Pakistani society." A successful example of independent filmmaking in contemporary Pakistan, the film provides New Hampshire audiences a framework for thought-provoking discussion led by Ayesha Khan, a bright new voice from Pakistan's burgeoning film industry.
A native of Pakistan, Ayesha is a film director and producer. In 2004, she founded Indus Valley Productions, a company that produces feature films, documentaries, and music videos for the international market. She has has been actively involved in the arts, theater, and film since 1994, and has directed and acted in theatrical productions in London and New York City. She served as writer, director, and producer for the feature film KASHF: Lifting of the Veil.
Presented by: Plymouth State University; the White Mountain School; Red River Theatres; the NH Society of Female Film Artists (SoFFA); the NH Film and Television Office; the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire; the law offices of Gallagher, Callahan, and Gartrell, and Rubia.
Khan's three-day visit follows a week-long October residency during which traditional Pakistani musicians shared their music and traditions. Contemporary musicians are the focus of Caravanserai's springtime offering in April. "Caravanserai: a place where cultures meet" is managed nationally by Arts Midwest on behalf of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, with support from the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. The film residencies are coordinated by South Arts. For additional information and resources about Pakistan, as well as a study guide for "Made in Pakistan," visit www.caravanserai-arts.org.
