Fawzia Mirza’s feature debut, “The Queen of My Dreams,” which premieres Sept. 8 at Toronto, isn’t just a love letter to Bollywood, it’s a love letter to mothers and daughters and intergenerational connections. “It’s an attempt to reflect on the compassion we have for the elders in our lives,” says Mirza.
Amrit Kaur (“The Sex Lives of College Girls”) plays Azra, a Muslim teen living in Toronto. When her father, Hassan (Hamza Haq), suddenly dies, Azra is forced into grieving as she returns to Pakistan. “Ms. Marvel’s” Nimra Bucha plays Miriam, in the coming-of-age film that crosses decades, generations, cultures and beliefs.
“The Queen of My Dreams” began over a decade ago as a short film in which Mirza starred and co-directed with Ryan Logan. “It really began as a private conversation that I was having about my struggle with whether I could be queer and...
Amrit Kaur (“The Sex Lives of College Girls”) plays Azra, a Muslim teen living in Toronto. When her father, Hassan (Hamza Haq), suddenly dies, Azra is forced into grieving as she returns to Pakistan. “Ms. Marvel’s” Nimra Bucha plays Miriam, in the coming-of-age film that crosses decades, generations, cultures and beliefs.
“The Queen of My Dreams” began over a decade ago as a short film in which Mirza starred and co-directed with Ryan Logan. “It really began as a private conversation that I was having about my struggle with whether I could be queer and...
- 9/8/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
With Greater Sydney facing another two weeks in lockdown, the growing Covid-19 threat has led to mixed reactions regarding productions in the state as movements become more constricted.
More than 900 people have been infected in Nsw since the Bondi cluster was discovered last month.
The outbreak has led Victoria – which is due to begin a snap five-day lockdown of its own from midnight on Thursday – to close its border with Nsw and Act as of this week, with Queensland also extended border restrictions to all of Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Shellharbour.
Meanwhile, Western Australia has reinstated border restrictions with Queensland and Nsw, while South Australia has closed its border with Nsw, the Act, and some parts of Queensland. Tasmania remains closed to people from greater Sydney.
The rise of the Delta strain is another blow to productions that have already had to navigate the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.
More than 900 people have been infected in Nsw since the Bondi cluster was discovered last month.
The outbreak has led Victoria – which is due to begin a snap five-day lockdown of its own from midnight on Thursday – to close its border with Nsw and Act as of this week, with Queensland also extended border restrictions to all of Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Shellharbour.
Meanwhile, Western Australia has reinstated border restrictions with Queensland and Nsw, while South Australia has closed its border with Nsw, the Act, and some parts of Queensland. Tasmania remains closed to people from greater Sydney.
The rise of the Delta strain is another blow to productions that have already had to navigate the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.
- 7/15/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Stars: Lie-ri Chen, Bryan Larkin, Mr. Waka Waka, Jared Robinsen, Luc Bendazza, Julian Gaertner, David Johnson Wood, Ryan Logan, Jai Day, Max Repossi, Catherine Du, Tian Guo-Xiong, Hai Bing Huang, Ray Li | Written by Bey Logan | Directed by Ross W. Clarkson
You might not recognise the name of director Ross W. Clarkson but its safe to say he has one hell of an action-movie pedigree. Vixen marks his directorial feature debut but Clarkson has had a Lot of experience in genre cinema, working as a cinematographer on films such as Undisputed 2 and 3, as well as the Scott Adkins starrer Ninja and its sequel, and the Van Damme flick Derailed… Like I said, one hell of a pedigree – something that shines through each and every frame of Vixen, from opening to close.
It also helps that the film comes from the pen of Bey Logan, the former editor of the classic action movie magazine Impact,...
You might not recognise the name of director Ross W. Clarkson but its safe to say he has one hell of an action-movie pedigree. Vixen marks his directorial feature debut but Clarkson has had a Lot of experience in genre cinema, working as a cinematographer on films such as Undisputed 2 and 3, as well as the Scott Adkins starrer Ninja and its sequel, and the Van Damme flick Derailed… Like I said, one hell of a pedigree – something that shines through each and every frame of Vixen, from opening to close.
It also helps that the film comes from the pen of Bey Logan, the former editor of the classic action movie magazine Impact,...
- 5/15/2019
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Chicago – Chicago’s own Fawzia Mirza continues to break ground with her cutting edge stage and film work, and is presenting her latest short film effort, “Spunkle,” at the 7th Annual Chicago South Asian Film Festival (Csaff). The film will screen at the Showplace Icon theatre in Chicago on October 9th, 2016, part of five days of South Asian themed films through October 10th. (see below for details).
“Spunkle” – which Mirza co-wrote with director Lisa Donato and long time collaborator Ryan Logan – is a play on terms “Sperm Donor” and “Uncle.” Matt (Jake Matthews) is asked to donate the necessary biological protocol for his older sister Saira (Fawzia Mirza), and her free spirited wife Maggie (Laura Zak). The film also recently played the Chicago Reeling2016 Lgbtq+ Film Festival.
Fawzia Mizra (right) with Laura Zak and Jake Matthews in ‘Spunkle’
Photo credit: Sparkle Motion Films
The Chicago South Asian Film Festival is in its seventh year,...
“Spunkle” – which Mirza co-wrote with director Lisa Donato and long time collaborator Ryan Logan – is a play on terms “Sperm Donor” and “Uncle.” Matt (Jake Matthews) is asked to donate the necessary biological protocol for his older sister Saira (Fawzia Mirza), and her free spirited wife Maggie (Laura Zak). The film also recently played the Chicago Reeling2016 Lgbtq+ Film Festival.
Fawzia Mizra (right) with Laura Zak and Jake Matthews in ‘Spunkle’
Photo credit: Sparkle Motion Films
The Chicago South Asian Film Festival is in its seventh year,...
- 10/8/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – The world is full of living components that express the similarities in our differences, and actress Fawzia Mirza is the embodiment of us all coming together. The self described South-Asian-Muslim-American woman has been a force on the Chicago acting scene for years, and recently broke out with a role in the high profile stage play “Brahman/i,” by Aditi Brennan Kapil, which premiered in Chicago on March 27th. The play was recently extended to May 4th.
We first met Fawzia Mirza on HollywoodChicago.com when her short film “Queen of My Dreams” was in competition at the Chicago International Film Festival. Since then, she has starred for two seasons in a web series – which she co-produced with her creative partner Ryan Logan – called “Kam Kardashian,” in which she portrayed the title character, the long lost “black sheep” sister of the famous brood.
Fawzia Mirza On Stage in ‘Brahman/i...
We first met Fawzia Mirza on HollywoodChicago.com when her short film “Queen of My Dreams” was in competition at the Chicago International Film Festival. Since then, she has starred for two seasons in a web series – which she co-produced with her creative partner Ryan Logan – called “Kam Kardashian,” in which she portrayed the title character, the long lost “black sheep” sister of the famous brood.
Fawzia Mirza On Stage in ‘Brahman/i...
- 4/28/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – On Tuesday, December 3rd, the Midwest Independent Film Festival will award their “Best of the Midwest” honors with a ceremony at The Underground Nightclub in Chicago. The evening will be hosted by Festival Director Mike McNamara, and nominees include “The Kings of Summer,” directed by Justin Vogt-Roberts, “Sole Survivor,” directed by Ky Dickens and “Be Good,” directed by Todd Looby.
The ‘Best of the Midwest’ Awards Are Tuesday, December 3rd
Photo credit: MidwestFilm.com
The Midwest Independent Film Festival is a year-round movie event in Chicago that takes place the first Tuesday of every month, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema. The festival has been named by Chicago Magazine in their “Best of Chicago” issue, and has become one of the top places for local filmmakers, producers and actors to network in the city.
The nominees for the “Best of the Midwest” Awards are as follows….
Best Music Video...
The ‘Best of the Midwest’ Awards Are Tuesday, December 3rd
Photo credit: MidwestFilm.com
The Midwest Independent Film Festival is a year-round movie event in Chicago that takes place the first Tuesday of every month, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema. The festival has been named by Chicago Magazine in their “Best of Chicago” issue, and has become one of the top places for local filmmakers, producers and actors to network in the city.
The nominees for the “Best of the Midwest” Awards are as follows….
Best Music Video...
- 12/2/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Thanks to your votes, the comedic web series following the forgotten lesbian sister of one of America's favorite families "Kam Kardashian" won this weekend’s Project of the Week contest! Congratulations to "Kam Kardashian" director Ryan Logan. The filmmaker will receive a digital distribution consultation from SnagFilms and the film is now officially a candidate for Project of the Month. That winner will be awarded with a consultation from the Tribeca Film Institute. Here's what the project's about: Kam Kardashian is a web series that follows Kameron, the long-lost lesbian Kardashian sister who was cut off, kicked out, and left to fend for herself. This sticky-fingered vixen loves whiskey and women, and most of all: yearns to re-insert herself into the Kardashian krown by any means possible (whether it be through petty crime, Photoshop, or her slightly unbalanced best friend, Mary Hollis). As...
- 1/9/2013
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
The news of Kim Kardashian's pregnancy sent waves through the internet and launched thousands of Tweets and Facebook posts. A comedic web series is hoping the starlet's celebrity can help launch a web series as well. Creators Fawzia Mirza and Ryan Logan have launched a Kickstarter campaign for Kam Kardashian, which introduces the world to Kim's fictitious lesbian sister. Four episodes of the series have already been released, which is plenty of time for viewers to get a solid picture of Kam's personality. She's jaded and vicious, likes her whiskey straight, and tells it like it is, with no remorse for her 'famous' family. A series of auxiliary characters exist mainly to fuel Kam's distaste for her estranged siblings. Given the five digit views those four episodes received, Mirza (who also stars as Kam) and Logan, who are based out of Chicago, have decided a few more installments are in hand.
- 1/2/2013
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Chicago – One of the great nights of the Chicago International Film Festival is the “City & State” Short Film program, as local filmmakers from Chicago and the State of Illinois present their work. Directors Nadav Kurtz (“Paradise”), Fawzia Mirza, Ryan Logan (“Queen of my Dreams”), Benjamin Kegan (“After Christmas”) and Brad Bischoff (“Where the Buffalo Roam”) were part of that program and spoke to HollywoodChicago.com.
Before the short films program began, producer Mary Kay Cook of the film “Wednesday’s Child” (directed by Rocco Cataldo) was acknowledged for winning the Illinois Shortcuts film competition, which won them a place in the same City & State presentation. Click here for the HollywoodChicago.com interview of Mary Kay Cook.
Nadav Kurtz, Director of “Paradise”
‘Paradise’ won the Silver Hugo prize in the Short Film competition for Best Documentary at the this year’s Chicago International Film Festival, and is on the short list...
Before the short films program began, producer Mary Kay Cook of the film “Wednesday’s Child” (directed by Rocco Cataldo) was acknowledged for winning the Illinois Shortcuts film competition, which won them a place in the same City & State presentation. Click here for the HollywoodChicago.com interview of Mary Kay Cook.
Nadav Kurtz, Director of “Paradise”
‘Paradise’ won the Silver Hugo prize in the Short Film competition for Best Documentary at the this year’s Chicago International Film Festival, and is on the short list...
- 10/24/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Summer in New York City is the time of picnics in the park, lazy beach days, outdoor movie screenings, sweaty subway rides, and all-around fun. The summertime is also Gay Pride Parade season in most cities. Naturally, many gay film festivals take place around this time of year as well. NewFest--New York's Lgbt Film Festival--is no exception. Now in its 24th year--running July 27 through 31--the festival is taking over Lincoln Center with a compelling program of narratives, documentaries, shorts and panels. Last week, we blogged about what a great year it’s been for LatinoLgbtfilms. We continue to highlight Latino Queer Cinema in a series of posts that will lead up to NewFest’s Opening Night on July 27.
Born Naked (Madrid - London - Berlin)
Documentary Feature
Director: Andrea Esteban
Spain | 2011 | 96 mins
Mon, Jul 30th 5:00pm
Walter Reade Theater - Lincoln Center
Director Andrea Esteban in person July 30!
Spanish filmmaker Andrea Esteban and her girlfriend Paula criss-cross Europe hitting London, Berlin and Madrid, creating a video scrapbook of young lesbian and trans artists, activists, journalists, soccer players, and anarcho-feminists. Passing through queer artist collectives, friends’ homes, music festivals and bars--they create a time capsule of a community of women fiercely fighting to define themselves and create their own identity in the face of societal pressure to fit the norm. Avoiding the typical talking heads interviews that plague most documentaries--the women share their experiences through a series of casual conversations about having to keep their relationships secret, confronting stereotypes, coming out to their families, and what it means to be queer.
It’s verité style, quick edits, and use of split screens set to a soundtrack of indie pop make it a unique documentary that’s fun and informative but at the same time intimate and personal. The camera maintains enough distance to make you feel like you are present in the moment--as part of the conversation--and at times, like you are eavesdropping on a private chat amongst a close group of friends. Drawing its title from RuPaul's famous line “We're all born naked, and the rest is drag,” this doc will surely serve as cultural artifact, documenting a movement and a moment in time. It’s only screening once at NewFest and as happens with most documentaries--let alone a Spanish lesbian doc--it may be your only chance to see it. It’s definitely worth a look.
Screening with:
Queen of My Dreams
Fawzia Mirza & Ryan Logan | 2011 | USA | 3m
“As a young girl, Fawzia Mirza fell under the spell of Bollywood heroines and their promise of love and feminine perfection. As an adult, she looks back and re-imagines the epic romance in the classic film Aradhana in a queer light.”
Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature onSydneysBuzzthat highlights emerging and established Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow@LatinoBuzzon twitter.
Born Naked (Madrid - London - Berlin)
Documentary Feature
Director: Andrea Esteban
Spain | 2011 | 96 mins
Mon, Jul 30th 5:00pm
Walter Reade Theater - Lincoln Center
Director Andrea Esteban in person July 30!
Spanish filmmaker Andrea Esteban and her girlfriend Paula criss-cross Europe hitting London, Berlin and Madrid, creating a video scrapbook of young lesbian and trans artists, activists, journalists, soccer players, and anarcho-feminists. Passing through queer artist collectives, friends’ homes, music festivals and bars--they create a time capsule of a community of women fiercely fighting to define themselves and create their own identity in the face of societal pressure to fit the norm. Avoiding the typical talking heads interviews that plague most documentaries--the women share their experiences through a series of casual conversations about having to keep their relationships secret, confronting stereotypes, coming out to their families, and what it means to be queer.
It’s verité style, quick edits, and use of split screens set to a soundtrack of indie pop make it a unique documentary that’s fun and informative but at the same time intimate and personal. The camera maintains enough distance to make you feel like you are present in the moment--as part of the conversation--and at times, like you are eavesdropping on a private chat amongst a close group of friends. Drawing its title from RuPaul's famous line “We're all born naked, and the rest is drag,” this doc will surely serve as cultural artifact, documenting a movement and a moment in time. It’s only screening once at NewFest and as happens with most documentaries--let alone a Spanish lesbian doc--it may be your only chance to see it. It’s definitely worth a look.
Screening with:
Queen of My Dreams
Fawzia Mirza & Ryan Logan | 2011 | USA | 3m
“As a young girl, Fawzia Mirza fell under the spell of Bollywood heroines and their promise of love and feminine perfection. As an adult, she looks back and re-imagines the epic romance in the classic film Aradhana in a queer light.”
Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature onSydneysBuzzthat highlights emerging and established Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow@LatinoBuzzon twitter.
- 7/19/2012
- by Vanessa Erazo
- Sydney's Buzz
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