Join APF for a conversation on identity, expression, and careers in the arts. We will be joined by three talented artists of Pakistani heritage making their mark on the creative world. They will share the eclectic and winding roads that brought them success in their fields. The panel will explore the challenges and rewards of pursuing non-traditional careers, how their heritage shapes their work, and offer tips on how to break through as an artist.

Speakers

Sanwal "Atta" Esakhelvi is a British-Pakistani-American visual effects supervisor, sound designer, singer, musician and songwriter. Before establishing himself as a singer, Esakhelvi was a professional cricketer until 2006 and has worked in British film industry as a VFX artist and sound engineer. He released his first album Teray Khayal Mein (2017) and debuted as a featured artist in the tenth-season of Coke Studio alongside his father. His future endeavors include working on empowering and educating people in Pakistan. 

Laraib Atta is a visual effects artist based in London. She began her career at the age of 19 and received the title of the youngest Pakistani and only woman from the country to be working at such a professional level. Some of her first projects she worked on include major Hollywood films such as Sweeney Todd, Chronicles of Narnia and 10.000 BC. She also worked for Disney commercials and album promos for George Michael and Rolling Stone. Some of her recent films projects include Mission Impossible: Fallout, 007 No Time To Die, Fast and Furious 9, and Tenet. 

Omar Mirza was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been collecting comics since the age of 8. Immediately, Omar fell in love with the Incredible Hulk, which went on to be his favorite comic book character. Throughout high-school and college Omar avidly collected comics hoping to one day create his own superhero. It was not until moving to New York City for medical school, that Omar began to explore his dream of one day creating his very own comic book. This dream soon became a reality when, by chance, he came across a webpage for Sajad Shah's cover art on the CGC forums. After befriending Sajad, Omar began the journey of Zindan and the rest in history.