Day1: Sept 30th 5:00PM || Day 2: Oct 1st 5:00PM  || Day 3: Oct 4th 4:00PM 

Film Day consists of panels and information curated for budding filmmakers and storytellers. What do you need to have in place in order to make your movie? How much can you prepare on your own as a filmmaker? Who do you need on your team? Come join us for this panel of creatives and curators to find out what it takes to have your work seen! Panelists include local and visiting directors, producers and programmers who’ll speak of their experiences and expertise.

The Film Day Symposium is funded by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Sept 30th 5:00 PM 
Northwest Film Forum
1515 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Screenwriter Gazal Dhaliwal (Lipstick Under My Burkha, Qarib Qarib Single, and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga) will talk about what goes into crafting a screenplay that tells a good story, and is entertaining. The films she has written carry layered social commentary while also being commercially viable and entertaining.

In this unique, interactive workshop, Gazal will talk about her journey as a writer and how her life and experiences have influenced the stories she writes. Then, she will deconstruct a few selected scenes from films she’s written for, breaking down the writing process, and the progression from page to screen. This workshop is great for filmmakers and writers who want to learn from an experienced screenwriter, as well as for film enthusiasts who are curious about what goes into writing a film script. Moderated by Pulkit Datta.

Oct 1st 5:00 PM 
Northwest Film Forum
1515 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Join some of our visiting filmmakers who have short films playing at the festival, as they pull the veil on everything that goes into making a short film. The filmmakers will discuss why they chose to tell their stories in this format, how they raised funding, and what they hope to accomplish by making short form content. Each filmmaker will also present a scene from their film and dissect what went into executing it – the uphill battles of pulling it off, and the creative solutions they used. This discussion and workshop will present an honest look into what it truly takes to make a short film, including delving into subjects of what things might cost, and perhaps most importantly, how to sustain oneself as a filmmaker while making your passion project. Moderated by Pulkit Datta.

Film Festival Symposium
Oct 4th 4:00 PM 
Simpson Center for the Humanities
Communications 120 (CMU 120)
University of Washington, Seattle

This symposium brings together filmmakers, academics, and activists who will together meditate on the challenges and opportunities of making films in the New South Asia.

Topics include but are not limited to:

• Filmmaking and politics.
• The role of independent and documentary cinema.
• The popularity and challenges of digital film making platforms.

Panelists are

Anand Patwardhan (Reason): Anand Patwardhan has been making political documentaries for over four decades, pursuing diverse issues that are at the crux of socio-political life in India. Many of his films were at one time or another banned by the censors and by State television channels and became the subject of litigation. Anand, who successfully challenged these censorship rulings in court, has also been active in movements for communal harmony as well as movements against unjust, unsustainable development; casteism; militarism; and nuclear nationalism.

Ritu Sarin & Tenzing Sonam (The Sweet Requiem): Ritu Sarin finished her MFA in film and video from the California College of Arts. Tenzing was born in Darjeeling in northeastern India to Tibetan refugee parents. He studied broadcast journalism at the University of California, Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism.  Their work has primarily focused on the subject of Tibet and has attempted to document, question and reflect on the issues of exile, identity, culture and politics that confront the Tibetan people.  Ritu and Tenzing are the directors of the Dharamshala International Film Festival, which they founded in 2012.

Syed Muhammad Hassan Zaidi (Dunkey Following European Dreams): Hassan Zaidi is a filmmaker/ Lecturer at The Film and Television Department, National College of Arts in Lahore. He is also completing his Masters in Multimedia Studies from the National College of Arts, Lahore.

This symposium is organized in collaboration with the South Asia Center at the University of Washington Seattle.