Jawad Sharif is an award-winning filmmaker who has come into prominence for exploring the often-ignored social subjects. His work focuses on the interface between the dominant culture and the real impact on people, society and the environment. Jawad is a Ted Fellow and an alumnus of the the UCLA, Swedish Institute and Institut Fur Auslandsbeziehunge, Germany. He is the Festival Director of Asia Peace Film Festival and jury member of the Jaipur Library Academy Awards. Jawad is also a founding member of Climate Kahani & Cinema For Change.
He has worked on a number of socially and culturally sensitive film projects involving the themes of human rights and social injustice besides arts and culture. His feature films include Indus Blues, The Losing Side, K-2 and the Invisible Footmen, The Color of Smog, Natari, and Beyond the Heights. His recent film “The Losing Side” has won the best “Human Rights Award” at the Cannes World Film festival. “Indus Blues” has won the Grand Jury Prize at GIFF and has been nominated in several other international film festivals including CPH-DOX, Copenhagen. His films have been screened in over a hundred festivals worldwide and won awards.
Film "Indus Blues"
In Pakistan, a country riddled with political turmoil, economic challenges, and social identity crisis, musicians and instrument craftsmen find it hard to survive and sustain their art. They also have to deal with the fact that being a music performer is a social taboo in society. Indus Blues is different because not only does it showcase the unique performances of these rarely seen musical instruments from perhaps their last remaining maestros but also takes the audience on a journey throughout the landscape of Pakistan from the northern Karakoram mountains to the southern coastline.
The film created waves in both local and international media including BBC, DW, and VOA upon the release of its trailer and initiated the much-needed debate about the radicalization of society in Pakistan.
Watch the film "Indus Blues" here.
Grab something to drink in the Café and meet Jawad Sharif in the park for a casual conversation on the lawn. The discussion will be moderated by Johannes Beltz (Deputy Director, Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art, Museum Rietberg).
Language: English
Duration: approx. one hour
Meeting point: lawn next to the Villa Wesendonck. Bring your blanket. In case of rain, the conversation will take place in the Vortragssaal, Park-Villa Rieter.
No registration required.
