Film can give a voice to communities, build bridges between different groups, and provide authentic representation. Filmmakers Aizzah Fatima, Babar Ahmed, and Iram Parveen Bilal joined APF to discuss their work, professional journeys, and on what role they see film playing in building bridges between American and Pakistani cultures.

Speakers:

Babar Ahmed is widely known for writing & directing “Amka and The Three Golden Rules”. The film was classified by Emirates Airlines as “one of the great movies from around the world” in their onboard playlist and is currently available on Amazon Prime. His short film, “Tikkun Olam” won numerous “Best Short Film” Awards in 2021, and was awarded by the California State Assembly as “a groundbreaking film”. His movies have been distributed by Lionsgate Entertainment, AMC Theaters, and other major streaming platforms.

Aizzah Fatima is an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and comedian. She wrote, produced, and starred in the feature film Americanish which won the audience award at the prestigious CAAMFest in May 2021, and has won 14 awards including Best Film and Best Actress. She is the recipient of The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art grant with Brooklyn Children’s Theatre. She is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and received her MFA in Writing for Film & TV from Emerson College.

Iram Parveen Bilal is a creator whose latest feature, I'll Meet You There, was in narrative competition at SXSW 2020 and acquired by Level Forward for US Distribution. She is currently slated to shoot her next feature, Wakhri (One of a Kind), which was an official selection project for 2019 Cannes Cinefondation L'Atelier and was just awarded the inaugural CAA-CAPE Full Story Initiative grant. Bilal initiated the formation of the Pakistani Oscar committee and is the founder of QALAMBAAZ, Pakistan's first professional screenwriting lab.