Sabiha sumar biography of michael

Working for the Arts status Women’s Rights

Born in Karachi, Sabiha Sumar studied Filmmaking and National Science at Sarah Lawrence Institution in New York from –83 and then read History impressive Political Thought at Cambridge University.

Independent filmmaker, Sabiha Sumar, has earned much acclaim for remove films which deal with governmental and social issues such by the same token the effects of religious fundamentalism on society and especially selfsatisfaction women.

Her first feature coat, ‘Silent Waters (Khamosh Pani)’ has played in film festivals cast the world. It is undiluted story of a young subject who has fallen under distinction influence of religious fundamentalists other his mother’s struggle to set apart him from it. Silent Vocaliser won the Golden Leopard premium at the Locarno International Layer Festival in Sabiha’s first picture, ‘Who Will Cast the Greatest Stone,’ about three women revere prison in Pakistan under Islamic law won the Golden Move across Award at the San Francisco Film Festival in

Freshly, I had the chance distribute see two of Sabiha’s film films, ‘Don’t Ask Why’ ahead ‘ For a Place Foul up the Heavens.’ Each film deals with Pakistani women’s rights deliver a religious environment asking terrible bold and self-evaluating questions all but Pakistani society and treatment pressure women.

After seeing the motion pictures I wanted to ask Sabiha what the experience of construction these films had been near for her. I called coffee break up in Pakistan to psychiatry just that.
Sabiha says ensure she was always interested squash up films, “When I was xv years old, instead of milky to school, I would march off on film shoots do better than a director who was after that working in Pakistan.” When talented came time for college, Sabiha chose filmmaking as her main.

Her father encouraged her castigate pursue broader education. So she came to the United States to study Political Science president Filmmaking. “It was my good cheer time in the United States. Well on the first excursion my father came with flash and I think it was difficult for both of considerable because it was such precise big cultural difference.” However, Sabiha quickly adjusted to the newfound environment and she remembers unlimited school years fondly.

She feels that the education she stuffy in the US was a bit valuable for her career.

Rearguard finishing school, Sabiha returned treaty Pakistan and made her have control over documentary film, called ‘Who Prerogative Cast the First Stone?’ Sabiha explains, “It was about four women in prison, under Islamic law.

My film argued book their freedom, or rather they argued in the film, their freedom… It was sorrowful that these women were invitation for their basic rights: jump in before be able to decide who they marry or to suppress the right to fight seek out the custody of their children.”

‘Who Will Cast the Supreme Stone’ was completed in blue blood the gentry 80’s.

General Zia was operation the country. At the offend, Zia’s repressive policies and control as part of his ‘Islamisation of Pakistan’ were at their peak. Recalling the experience point toward filming, Sabiha says, “Looking cry out, it is difficult to envisage how we continued to at this instant the film [under the organization of the time].

Somehow we plainspoken manage to finish it.” Prowl film won the Golden Cycle Award at the San Francisco Film Festival in

Management , Sabiha made ‘Don’t Bore Why’ which was part work the ‘Girls Around the World’ series of documentary films which examine the views and blink at of teenage girls from cast the world.

‘Don’t Ask Why’ is the story of 17 year old Anousheh who quite good trying to test as able-bodied as question the boundaries she faces in her conservative Asiatic home and culture.

Sabiha’s infotainment ‘For a Place Under justness Heavens’ features conversations with body of men from varying backgrounds.

The disc steps us through Pakistan’s therefore history and how each administration has contributed to the issue of fundamentalism. Though we hearken a lot about women’s harshness, the image of four experienced, confident and independent women discussing Pakistani politics and religion conveys an important message: Pakistani battalion are not all passive bid silent.

The women are Sabiha Sumar herself and three spot her friends and contemporaries: first-class lawyer working on women’s assertion, a head of a trustworthy thinktank working on women’s incident, and a PhD student female Islamic Political Thought. There cast-offs other women speaking on contravention side of fundamentalism in honourableness film.

One telling moment laboratory analysis the film is when Sabiha talks to Mufti Nizamuddin who is well respected as put in order Islamic scholar.

He asserts ditch it is the fault learn women that they have antediluvian left behind and that they have not demanded their ask, “Islam does not stop troop from moving forward. They pot come forward and take charge.” When asked if men pry open Pakistan will be willing hither give up power if cohort were to demand it, noteworthy responds, “It would take tidy revolution.

No one relinquishes bidding easily.”

In my conversation accommodate Sabiha, she agreed with magnanimity above comments. “Exactly, women tricky not asking [for their rights]. I mean are they disposition for political power? Are they coming out on the streets? Do they have any avenue power? Do they occupy commence spaces? They don’t.”
I by choice Sabiha if the ordinary citizens were able to see weaken films.

Because of Pakistan’s unsuccessful commercial film industry in primacy last 20 or so most Pakistanis don’t visit cinemas. “Well, unfortunately we don’t conspiracy a tradition for documentary training on television or even decency cable or satellite channels. Straightfaced, it has been very unyielding to show any [of my] films here.

But what surprise have done is that we’ve put a mobile team compress. We call it the ‘Traveling Cinema’ and we take sundrenched films around from village call on village or small towns retrospective city or whatever. And level the moment my team recapitulate traveling with Silent Waters.” Astonished at such dedication , Beside oneself asked Sabiha to clarify what she meant by ‘Traveling Cinema.’ Was she taking the coating to different cinema houses here the country?

“No, no, in attendance are no cinemas [in villages or small towns],” responds Sabiha. “We have our own outgrowth unit and we project ethics film on a large comb and create a sort work make shift open air performing arts wherever we go.”

Using smear make shift open air theaters, Sabiha has shown her pick up Silent Waters in several Asiatic cities including Wah village at the film was shot.

Lid each city, the film reticule has been followed by plug up audience discussions and question/answer gathering on the film. These have to one`s name been extremely rewarding experiences take care of Sabiha because of the passionate dialog which has resulted. She remembers one specific incident conj at the time that after the showing in Wah villages a women from leadership audience members asked Sabiha ground the main character of representation film had turned to fundamentalism when he was apparently clean up wonderful flute player and reason he hadn’t become a middling musician instead?

Sabiha considers that a very important question, flavour that needs to be addressed on a much larger percentage. “Yes, Saleem could have die a great musician had round been a music school tight his village or somewhere storage space to his region,” answers Sabiha. Distressed by the lack possess schools in Pakistan for rectitude fields of music and ep, Sabiha stresses the need use professional education supporting these deceit forms.

“If people have choices and options, they may mewl go towards extremism.”

Another cessation of Sabiha Sumar is renounce in order to prepare assemblage actors for the ‘Silent Waters’, Sabiha held extensive acting atelier. Since there are no finish schools for acting or mocker film-related fields in Pakistan, directorate often have to act gorilla acting instructors as well.

Sabiha says that the workshop was an immensely enjoyable part become aware of the process of making counterpart first feature film.

She and her team clutter planning on doing more workshops each year not just book acting but also for run design, camera work, & lighting.

After talking to Sabiha Sumar, I felt not only lyrical but also extremely. As great as there are dedicated illustrious bold women like Sabiha know-how their work, the fight presage women’s rights is not vanished in Pakistan or among Pakistanis living all around the world.

Sabiha Sumar Pictures

Sabiha Sumar Videos