Projects in genres: Asian

Synopsis

Roya and Omid is an exploration of transsexuality in Iran. B, a young female-to-male transsexual reflects on his childhood spent in the wrong body. His narrative is crossed the insightful comments of several male-to-female transsexuals – Donya, Handry, Leila and Shirin, who have to endure the daily scorn of society.

Synopsis

Tantric guru, Laurie Handlers (from NYC) travels across India with ten US tourists in search of spiritual enlightenment and the Real India. A rich, challenging and often hysterical roadtrip from the Ganges to the Taj Mahal. Squeamish tantric ritual, culture shock and the contradictions of new-age tourism combine in a documentary that is so surreal that it can only be real.

Synopsis

Runa, a British Bangladeshi girl, is excited to take her holiday with her father to Bangladesh - the country of origin of her father; she is floating in a sweet dream of a great adventurous holiday - different part of the world, different culture, ocean wide tea garden, the hugest tiger, mountains, fountains etc. Her sweet dream turns into a blood-chilling nightmare when, in a dramatic auction, her father sells her to her animal-like uncle and her uncle forces her into marriage to his son who is several years younger than Runa.
 
Runa's life turns into great suffering in that backward society where women have virtually no rights and absolutely no control over their lives. Despite this, she never stops thinking of being free knowing that it is almost impossible to escape from the village which is absolutely under her uncle's control. But one day, the impossible becomes possible, with a tremendous effort of the Forced Marriage Unit of British Home Office Runa escapes. Runa is flown back to the UK, to her boyfriend, who unbelievably denies her as his mother doesn't want to take a runaway girl as her daughter-in-law. Runa then walks away alone - all alone.

Synopsis

A man wanders alone moving from town to town in North West India. Once a brave warrior now a Boatmaker for Yama, Lord of Death. He is Dharayan and ferrying souls is the price he pays for being granted immortality as a warrior. But Dharayan desires nothing more than to die and be with his son murdered by his enemies.

When Dharayan arrives at a new town he is met with suspicion and hostility except for a young girl called Sonu who greets with him with kindness and friendship. Sonu's charm begins to win over the emotionally closed off Boatmaker who forges a close bond with the child and her widow mother.

After making more boats than he can recall, Dharayan learns he can finally be with his son if he collects one last soul. He begins his last task only to discover it is for Sonu's mother. The young child begs him not to take her mother away forcing Dharayan to choose between saving Sonu's mother or joining his son.

Synopsis

Nikki and Vincent both came from broken homes. On the streets is where they found each other. They are wild, unwanted and in love. They are The Feral Generation.
 

Synopsis

Amish is celebrating is his 18th birthday with his family, however it's not balloons and cards that he wants this year.

Synopsis

Trouble Sleeping tells the story of a Palestinian refugee, Ahmed, and his struggle to survive and remain a good man. He is about to be deported from the UK and be forced into a return to the Middle East which is fraught with danger. Halla knows a secret which can save him but he cost of revealing that secret will be terrible for her.

Trouble Sleeping is based on the true stories of refugees in Scotland.

Synopsis

Zohra is a coming of age short film about family independence and growing up. Based on a real event – in 1960 it follows the an 18 year girl, Zohra, from Karachi to London. Under pressure from her brothers, looking for “a better life at her Majesty’s invitation” Zohra arrives in Britain. She soon realises the chasm of culture between and the England and the rest of the world and how it can be bridged. The film is based on the true experiences of young settler, Zohra Naseem Akhtar Bem, in sixties London who was a leading figure for race relations in the seventies.

Synopsis

The separatist war in Sri Lanka is responsible for over 60,000 deaths. In that same period of time almost twice as many people committed suicide in Sri Lanka.

This documentary describes the high rate of suicides in rural Sri Lanka and shows that often people harm themselves to communicate their feelings. It looks into the social cultural and religious reasons for this act of self harm.

Synopsis

Bo Kata, loosely translated in English means hacked! That is the victory battle cry when kites are eliminated in raging sky duels, sometimes lasting hours.

Filmed entirely in Lahore, Pakistan, over three continuous days, Bo Kata is a rare cinematic documentary treat, depicting uniquely the rooftop kite flyers of Lahore, who have been a traditional part of Pakistan's culture and heritage that has lasted for over 400 years. Their sport is now under threat from a complete ban, after a series of tragic fatalities involving children and motorcyclists, resulting in decapitations and dismemberment from illegal chemically coated strings used to fly the kites.

The documentary highlights a population that is associated with the mysterious art of kite dueling amidst the political backdrop of an impending ban.

Synopsis

Mini Mayor is a short film focusing on the issues of power and popularity through the eyes of London's youth. The main character goes through a rollercoaster-like experience with authoritative powers as he finds himself in the shoes of the Mayor of London for a day. As he soon discovers, power and popularity have their pros and cons as he experiences the trials and tribulations of dealing with the public in various situations. With it's fresh take on a modern mayor, Mini Mayor hopes to educate both the viewers and filmmakers on what would could happen if today's youth were in the shoes of big decision-makers.

Synopsis

Fazaila is a Shia-Muslim teenager from East London whose mum thinks she's becoming 'too English'. This first film by her cousin Heena explores Fazaila's need to find her own way.