Join us to explore innovation in movies and art with Pakistani American producers. Bilal Sami, a multifaceted filmmaker and producer, will be one-half of the panel. His credits include the upcoming David Blaine documentary series ‘Do Not Attempt’ for Disney+, the feature 'Dobara Phir Se’, and the crime thriller 'Laal Kabootar’. The other half of the panel features Hania Chima. As a Creative Film Producer, Hania has played a pivotal role in bringing compelling stories to life, including co-creating and producing "Laal Kabootar," Pakistan's submission to the 2020 Oscars.
Our panelists include:
Hania Chima is a part-time Executive Administrator at APF. Outside her work here she is an award winning Film Producer based in New York, actively engaging in the film & TV industry. As a Creative Film Producer, she has played a pivotal role in bringing compelling stories to life on screen. Notable achievements include co-creating and producing "Laal Kabootar", Pakistan's submission to the 2020 Oscars. A feature crime-thriller theatrically released in Pakistan and Australia, that played at International film festivals including Palm Springs Film Festival, Chicago South Asian Film Festival, and it won best film awards at Vancouver South Asian Film Festival and Seattle's Tasveer Film Festival.
Bilal Sami is a Pakistani-American filmmaker whose multifaceted career spans acting, writing and producing. As a producer, his credits include the upcoming David Blaine documentary series titled ‘Do not attempt' by Imagine Entertainment for Disney+, the critically acclaimed feature 'Dobara Phir Se’ (Deja Vu) which he also wrote, and the Pakistani crime thriller 'Laal Kabootar’ (The Red Pigeon) on which he was a consulting producer. He also directed the music documentary 'Dhun', featured at London's Alchemy Festival at the Southbank Centre, London.
In collaboration with artist Rashid Rana (recipient of the Sitar-E- Imtiaz — Pakistan’s highest civilian honor), Sami created the public art project 'Stories We Tell' for the inaugural Lahore Biennale in 2016. After running his own boutique production company out of Lahore, he established the New Media and Syndication divisions of Middle Eastern media giant Geo Entertainment between 2018 and 2020, and has since been involved in projects across Pakistan, UAE, UK and the US. Sami began his career as a teenage television actor in Pakistan and received a Fulbright scholarship for his MFA in Film. With a lifelong passion for storytelling, he has since then steadily built up his experience writing, producing and directing film and TV on both sides of the Atlantic.
Saqafati Jashn: Celebrating Heritage, Art, and Expression, is a vibrant webinar series dedicated to the rich tapestry of Pakistani heritage, culture, music, and fashion. This series aims to illuminate the diverse cultural threads that weave together the nation's identity, offering participants an immersive experience in traditional and contemporary artistic expressions. Join us to learn more about Pakistan’s unique heritage and get inspired by the stories, sounds, and styles that define our cultural landscape.