Saturday, January 28, 2012

Please Join us for an Afternoon Tea with Female Film Artist Ayesha Khan of Pakistan


Granite SoFFA—the New Hampshire Society of Female Film Artists, in cooperation with the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire and the NH Film & Television Office, invites filmmakers to enjoy a free Afternoon Tea with Female Filmmaker Ayesha Khan of Pakistan on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 2:30 p.m. at the law offices of Gallagher, Callahan, and Gartrell, PC, located at 214 North Main Street, Concord. All are welcome.

The event will allow Granite State filmmakers an opportunity to discuss the challenges of filmmaking in Pakistan and of being a woman filmmaker there. Attendees will have an opportunity to talk with the documentarian who is traveling with her film, Made in Pakistan, for which she served as Executive Producer.

The film will screen at Red River Theatres at 7 p.m. that evening ($10 ticket price), followed by a Q&A. The screening, presented by the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire in partnership with the Red River Theatres and the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, is part of “Caravanserai: A place where cultures meet,” a national pilot program designed to establish greater understanding between American and Muslim societies by showcasing the diversity of Islamic art and culture.

“Caravanserai,” coordinated locally by the Arts Alliance, introduces American audiences to some of the most exciting and dynamic artists from the Muslim world; Pakistani artists are the focus of the first year. The Arts Alliance is one of only five arts organizations nationwide selected to participate in the pilot year. "Caravanserai" is managed nationally by Arts Midwest on behalf of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, with support from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. The film residencies are coordinated by South Arts.

About the filmmaker:

A native of Pakistan, Ayesha Khan is a film director and producer. In 2004, Ayesha founded Indus Valley Productions, a company that produces feature films, documentaries, and music videos for the international market. Ayesha previously worked with Made in Pakistan’s Director Nasir Khan as writer, director, and producer for Kashf, The Lifting of the Veil. She has directed and acted in theatrical productions in London and New York City and has been actively involved in the arts, theater, and film since 1994.

About the film:

In October 2007, Newsweek magazine labeled Pakistan “The Most Dangerous Country in the World.” Made in Pakistan, a documentary about four young professionals in Lahore, Pakistan, attempts to tell a different story about the country’s past and future. With honest and tender vignettes that offer a glimpse of the four individuals’ careers, personal lives, traditions, and political views, Made in Pakistan showcases the diversity of contemporary Pakistan—and demonstrates this new generation’s hope and direction for their homeland.

Filmmakers are invited to meet Ayesha Khan at the Law Offices of Gallagher, Callahan, & Gartrell, which has generously donated the Pierce Room at the 214 North Main Street offices for the event. An RSVP is appreciated via Facebook’s Granite SoFFA “Made in Pakistan” Afternoon Tea events page or by emailing info@granitesoffa.org. Special thanks to the NH Film & Television Office and the Arts Alliance of Northern NH for help in coordinating this event.