Join us at Qahwa for a special preview screening of Saffron Kingdom followed by conversation and Q&A with the film's producer Arfat Sheikh and Ust. Saad Omar on the importance of filmmaking and bringing attention to these often under represented areas of the Muslim experience!
Tickets will be required for admission. Please donate if you'd like to see more events like this at Qahwa in the future. Have of the donations will go towards Qahwa while the other half with go towards the film's production company/
If you'd like to donate directly to the production company, you can do so here: https://www.daffodilstudios.org/giving-page-1-1
Please note that due to the violent and sensitive content dispalyed in the film, admission will not be granted for attendees below the age of 14.
Event Schedule:
5:30 – Asr Prayer
5:45 – Doors Open
6:00 – Screening Begins
7:30 – Screening ends + Interview Begins
8:15 – Maghrib Prayer
About the Film:
Saffron Kingdom explores the Kashmir conflict through a family's journey from Srinagar in the 1990s to Atlanta in 2019. The story begins with young Masrat, who witnesses the violence of insurgency during her childhood. By 2014, as an adult, Masrat's life takes a devastating turn when her husband is abducted, forcing her to flee to America with her young son, Rizwan.
In Atlanta, Rizwan wrestles with the trauma of his father's disappearance, while Masrat juggles her roles as a protective mother and a university researcher documenting their past. The political upheaval in 2019, including the revocation of Kashmir's semi-autonomous status and a military siege, severs their remaining ties to family in Kashmir, deepening their sense of loss. Both Masrat and Rizwan grapple with inter-generational trauma as the scars of their homeland's conflict reverberate through their lives. As Masrat navigates these challenges, she strives to reclaim her family's narrative and find their place in a new world.
About the Speakers:
Arfat Sheikh
Arfat Sheikh is a Kashmiri filmmaker whose work is shaped by the rich and complex history of 1990s Kashmir. With Master’s degrees in Public Relations and in Film, he has been dedicated to non-profit communications and multimedia storytelling since 2011. His debut feature, Saffron Kingdom, weaves real-life events from Kashmir with his personal experiences, offering a nuanced exploration of the region’s history. Inspired by the LA Rebellion filmmakers, Iranian cinema, and the Documentary Film Movement, Sheikh focuses on sharing stories of resilience and humanity, breaking down stereotypes and fostering deeper global understanding.
Saad Omar
Saad Omar graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in English and a masters in nonprofit management. He has studied Islam and Arabic in Mecca, Jordan, Turkey and across the United States and lectured widely across United States, Canada and Europe. He is a published songwriter and poet, teacher and entrepreneur. He is currently working on building a living community, nonprofit cafe and business incubator in Sterling, VA.