August is over, and having just graduated this spring, I’m facing the uncertainty of what’s next, asking myself that scary question: What do I want to do when I grow up? For right now, I’m pretty pumped about being a part of the chashama Festival of the Worlds because it represents the new stage of life that I’m at: indulging in my passions (film and writing), honing my skills and exhibiting my work to an interested audience (that’d be you!).
The Festival of the Worlds reaches out to up-and-coming filmmakers. It welcomes all genres, budgets and levels of filmmaking experience. To me, the festival is like a movement of films that are uninhibited, unlimited, free to be controversial. This manner of self-exploration and discovery is evident in the films, because they raise issues that concern the filmmakers.
These films voice diverse opinions, present international views and contemplate very topical issues of our world today. As a young person in the world, who just spent the last four years learning about different people and what makes the world go round, I find that the Festival of the Worlds offers a remarkable platform for investigations of human nature. We are pushing boundaries by sharing our diverse toolbox of experiences, our struggles and triumphs.
It’s so refreshing to see how the chashama Film Festival is dedicated to educating young filmmakers and the importance they place on youth outreach. We, too, have a voice. And it is great to know there is a platform dedicated to giving us the stage.
Hello World!
Some people call me unconventional. Others say I’m creative, quirky. But everyone can agree that I’m obsessed with the art of filmmaking. Filmmaking is a visual expression of emotions and states of being. It’s a beautiful thing to stay in (or go out, whichever you prefer) watch a movie that speaks to you and complements your mood of the moment. Or a movie that inspires you to act, or stimulates you intellectually. A movie can do all that for you.
I enjoy watching movies of all kinds: comedies (oh, Seth Rogen), horror movies (the more blood-curdling the scream, the better), and, of course, action-packed thrillers (car chases are kind of a big deal). But the ones that I find most fulfilling are the movies that have a message and serve as a platform to help educate and motivate change. The movies that are meant to bring the international community together and foster an educational relationship. The movies that will open our eyes about one another’s cultures and make us more aware of other ideologies of the world.
Sound familiar? I am referring to the provocative, thought-provoking films submitted to the chashama Film Festival. And I hope you readers are as excited as I am to see what these filmmakers have to offer. Leading up to and throughout the festival, I’ll be bringing you a weekly dose of commentaries and interpretations of the featured films. No spoilers, regurgitations of detailed plot summaries, or verbose posts that make it pointless to watch the movie in the first place. Instead, look to me as a guide to your viewing experience. I am here to help you get more out of the chashama Film Festival.
Welcome to the chashama experience.