Some Lover to Some Beloved (Documentary), Grand Pa and I (Short Film)

About the Film

Inspired by John Gielgud, veteran Pakistani actor Zia Mohyeddin (‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘A Passage to India’) recites readings from now fading Urdu literature every year. In 2010, he makes a deviation from his thirty-year tradition and reads solely from the work of one author – legendary revolutionary Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. As contemporary Pakistan devolves into violence and instability, Zia’s readings of Faiz’s poetry find new resonance and leads Zia on an introspective journey into his extraordinary past and uncertain future.

Cast: Zia Mohyededdin

Director: Umar Riaz

Umar Riaz is a Student Academy Award nominated filmmaker, born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan and currently based in New York City and Lahore, Pakistan. In 2009 he graduated with a degree in English Literature and Cinema Studies from New York University’s College of Arts and Science. He then graduated from the Graduate Film Program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where he was awarded an Ang Lee Scholarship for ‘exceptionally talented graduate film students.’ His award winning films have screened at film festivals internationally including at the 65th Locarno Film Festival, the 20th Raindance Film Festival, the Woodstock Film Festival, Cinequest, HBO and BET’s Urbanworld Film Festival amongst several others. He was Artistic Consultant for director Terrence Malick on ‘Knight of Cups’ (2016) and as well as an Additional Editor for Mr Malick’s film ‘Song to Song’ (2017).

About the Film

After the death of her parents, Erum (Saboor Ali) goes on to spend her childhood with her loving grandfather (Qavi Khan). The two live happily together until it is time for Erum to pursue studies abroad, and the two bid farewell to each other with heavy hearts, promising to keep in touch through letters. Erum’s life abroad moves further and further away from her grandfather, until she receives a letter from him one day, and realizes it is time for grandfather’s little sparrow to return to her nest.

Cast: Qavi Khan, Saboor Ali

Director: Ali Sohail Jaura

Ali Sohail Jaura is an Independent filmmaker from Karachi, Pakistan with a penchant to evolve emotions through his stories. He likes to explore different styles of storytelling in his films. In 2015, his debut short film “Prohibited” won numerous International awards around the globe. In 2017, he made a travel short film “Arz e Pakistan” (Land of Pakistan) based on Northern Regions of Pakistan which went into a winning streak and won many awards and accolades at International tourism film festivals around the world, it also ranked in Top 10 tourism films of 2018 by CIFFT (Comité International des Festivals du Film Touristique). His recent short film “Nanu Aur Main” (Grandpa and I) based on grandparent relationships, has been selected in some of the largest South Asian film festivals of America in 2018.