WAITING
Directed by Anu Menon
Run time: 90min
Language: Hindi (with English subtitles)
Country: India
Year: 2015
Synopsis
At the heart of it, ‘Waiting’ is a film about a special relationship between two people who befriend each other unexpectedly in a hospital while nursing their individual spouses in coma. It is a film about grief, yes, but it is also about confronting it. Tenderly and humorously, the film besets you with its central query – what does it mean to love someone – is it to let go of your beloved in spite of your emotional need for them or is it to unconditionally accept them in whatever shape or form they are.
DIRECTOR’S BIO
After a decade of strategic planning in advertising agencies in India and Singapore, Anu Menon decided to give it all up to chase her filmmaking dream. She graduated from London Film School with an MA in filmmaking and a rare distinction. Her short films Ravi Goes to School, Fock Helen and Harry and Baby have screened at various prestigious film festivals like Tribeca, Edinburgh International Film Festival. She lives in London and works between India and the West. In her work, she tries to reflect the worldview that she has gained thanks to her varied experiences of different cultures across the world.
BROTHER, OMAR MATEEN
Directed by Saad Khan
Run time: 5min
Language: English
Country: USA
Year: 2016
Synopsis
A Muslim queer Pakistani immigrant to the US empathizes with Omar Mateen, drawing parallels between his identities and that of the Orlando shooter.
DIRECTOR’S BIO
Saad Khan is a documentary filmmaker. His work explores the intersection of identity, power, gender, sexuality and ethnicity in post-colonial South Asia. He has directed/produced Chuppan Chupai (2012) on Pakistani gay and transgender Individuals and Showgirls of Pakistan, which is in the works.