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shareThe 3rd iteration of the 12G Contemporary Video Art Festival celebrates contemporary video art—that is, contemporary art using recorded moving images, created by artists from or about the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. This 3rd edition of the juried show will be co-presented by Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF) during their 10 day festival. Subjects and themes for the exhibit include queer, controversial, poetic, abstract, political, philosophical, uncensored—anything that stretches beyond conventional. This year’s line-up includes twelve original experimental works selected from nineteen hundred submissions after detailed deliberations from our judges on the merits of art, filmmaking, experimentation, representation, opportunities, and aesthetics. 12GatesArts is forever grateful to the 12Gates team, judges, and PAAFF and to all the artists and filmmakers who submitted their work. Artist Sharlene Bamboat expected in attendance at the November 12 presentation.
In this program
The Remains
Directed by Nawa Nidhi Dahal
A stream of consciousness progression of an elderly man’s hallucinatory experience.
Shirin and Farhad
Directed by Rahim Karimzadeh
This animated short is based on the old Persian myths of Shirin and Farhad and takes a critical look at the impact of the media on humans and native cultures.
The Stitch
Directed by Asiya Zahoor
Set near the LOC towards the extreme north of Kashmir, “The Stitch” takes us into the life of a nine-year-old girl who finds respite in drawing despite the fact that she has to navigate difficult geographical terrains and occasionally crossfire to go to school.
Video Home System
Directed by Sharlene Bamboat
Tracing the convergence of popular culture and politics in Pakistan during the 1980s-90s, this video showcases the connections between pop culture and nationalism and how bootleg economies kept the cinema industry alive during periods of censorship.
Slurp
Directed by Ankita Panda
“Slurp” is an observation of sexual harassment and objectification through the male gaze.
The Red
Directed by Elif Şimşek
In a dystopian universe where red and apples are forbidden, Pigeon violates these prohibitions and searches for the reason why they are contraband.
Stage of History
Directed by Sahand Sarhaddi
An experimental take on the relationship between performance, history, and the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
Two Winters Before
Directed by Malas Twins
During wartime, everything vanishes—people, streets, stones, friends, cafes, trees, and hope.
Your Body Must Be Heard
Directed by Özlem Sarıyıldız
This project is a manifestation that hails through the thresholds of the lands of desires.
Everything is Under Control
Directed by Reza Masoud
An artist talks to himself to make sense of his personal situation.
Romantic Scene
Directed by Arshia Fatima Haq
A short film examining the tropes of gendered violence in commercial Bollywood films from the 70s and 80s to which the filmmaker was exposed during their childhood and adolescence.
