Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF) runs August 4-7. Their diverse lineup includes the Oscar-winning HBO documentary, Girl in the River, focused on honour killings. We chatted with festival co-director Anya McKenzie, who is a strong voice for the visibility of South Asian women and the eradication of violence against women.
SDTC: Girl in the River features prominently in your lineup. Why was it important for you to shine a light on violence against women in the South Asian community?
AM: MISAFF is committed to raising the social consciousness of our audiences and showcasing the best in South Asian cinema, and this Academy Award-winning documentary about the issue of honour killing in Pakistan by renowned filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is one of the year’s most stunning and relevant films.
As a cultural programmer and a woman of South Asian heritage who has been fighting for women’s rights, I feel compelled to present this film at MISAFF, which takes place in the heart of the South Asian diaspora, Mississauga, where these issues are only all too familiar.
It is especially poignant in the wake of the recent honour killing in Pakistan of Quandeel Baloch, a new feminist voice who died far too early. We must take heart and provide a space for women to engage and keep the dialogue going, to show solidarity with our sisters, and to honour the work of a leading voice like Sharmeen. Honour killing in Pakistan alone is a huge issue and affects a thousand women and, as Sharmeen confirmed, over five thousand women around the world. This is our small contribution to understanding and transformation. We hope to educate, engage and enlighten our audiences on what can be done to overcome this issue.
What was your biggest challenge in putting together this festival?
The biggest challenge was two fold: 1) Selecting the films for our lineup as there are so many great new films coming out the South Asian diaspora in Canada and around the world and 2) finding the money to make it happen. That being said, this year’s lineup is outstanding with over six Canadian premieres, including the groundbreaking film ALIGARH (directed by Hansal Mehta and starring Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkumar) and the emotionally driven drama WAITING (directed by Anu Menon and starring Naseerrudinh Shah and Kalki Koechlin).
Nearly half the films are directed by women, and we are very honoured to be shining the spotlighting on Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy with Girl in the River and Song of Lahore.
Anya McKenzie
What are you hoping audiences will take away from the screenings, in particular Girl in the River?
I hope MISAFF audiences gain insight into the issue of honour killing, learn more about what women around the world face, find courage to take this issue forward in their own communities and gain an appreciation for the power of cinema and independent filmmaking.
Was it important for you to have a strong female representation at the festival?
It is important for MISAFF to represent and showcase talent that is underrepresented and to be inclusive. This year, festival director Arshad Khan and I saw a rising tide of films by great female directors making outstanding films, as well as riveting stories about powerful female characters, so it was a natural and important fit, both in terms of inclusiveness and presenting outstanding cinema. I recognize the female voice champions different issues and offers diversity in vision, which resonates deeply with me and with our audiences. We experienced this responsiveness last year with Afia Nathaniel’s work, MISAFF star Supinder Wraich, as well as in previous years with great filmmakers like Mira Niar and Shonali Bose, and this year’s contingent is no exception. It is an exciting time for South Asian women in film. I look forward to sharing these magnificent film with you at MISAFF 2016!
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