Abid Aziz Merchant

Thank you @joeymoser83 @awardsdaily

“Decent girls don’t dance dirty,” is the first line uttered in the award-winning short, Sandstorm. Zara, a young woman in Pakistan, flirts with her paramour, Omar, via Snapchat, and she sends him a video of her gyrating her hips as she dances. That one, seemingly insignificant message could destroy Zara’s reputation even if it leaks. Omar wouldn’t face any consequences for saving or enjoying Zara’s dance, but she would be punished. Director Seemab Gul presents this scenario simply, and it raises so many questions about a young woman’s ownership over her own body and sexuality as she comes of age. It’s easy to see how Sandstorm won the Best Narrative Short prize at this year’s festival. - Joey Moser (The 25 Best Shorts from the HollyShorts Film Festival, Awards Daily, Sep 19, 2022).

You can watch #sandstorm #mulaqat on the @newyorkermag #screeningroom on #youtube

@sanat_initiative @instinctproductions @sayonarafilm @londonflairpr @mulaqat_2021 @seemabgul2022 #pakistan #pakistanicinema #pakistanzindabad 🇵🇰