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This screening is only open to audiences in Oregon.
This screening features 2 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the film title buttons on the top right.
The coming-out story of a second-generation Bengali American who desires to live life fully as a man in a trans-phobic immigrant culture. The film explores the challenges faced by the protagonist within his traditional immigrant family and community. It's a heartfelt and powerful narrative that sheds light on the struggles and resilience of LGBTQIA+ individuals in conservative environments.
Director Biography - Razid Season
Born in Abu Dhabi & raised in Dhaka, Razid Season is a Bengali/Bangladeshi filmmaker based in New York. He is the founder of a non-profit, Image Maker Films Inc. Besides, he has worked as a freelance project evaluator for POV. He was an invited jury at the Plural+ Youth Film Festival 2022, run by UNAOC and IOM. He has an MFA in Film from CCNY. He has received several awards for his films, including the NYMAN Award (2018 & 2019), the Best Director award from SAIFF 2020, Honourable Mention from Columbus Jewish Film Festival 2020, and ISA Los Angeles. He won the 2022 New York Grant under the New York State Arts Development Fund for his current short film, "Elijah," which tells the story of a South Asian transgender man. His films have premiered at the 43rd Asian American Film Festival in New York, the Buffalo International Film Festival, the Williamsburg International Film Festival, and the Polish Film Festival of Los Angeles. His film, Kaddish, which focuses on the human spirit, has been premiered in dozens of film festivals around the globe. The film also made its CUNY TV premiere in 2023, Yiddishkayt Initiative in 2022, and The Archeological Channel's web streaming in 2021. It ranked as one of the top 10 independent short fiction works by Cinema Daily US. Razid is interested in making films that deal with humanitarian issues, and he wants his films to be a tool to advocate for those underprivileged communities whose voices are not heard in the mainstream media. He is currently working on his first feature film script.
Director Statement
In Elijah, I deal with the topic of gender identity and a working class color immigrant family, and its breadwinner who became victims of American dream. I personally volunteered for hundreds of transgender youth who were going through their crisis, and I also volunteered for Yellow and Green Cab taxi drivers in New York City, many of them were people of color, and some of them faced bankruptcy due to crashing taxi medallion values in New York City. My goal was to highlight the impacted minorities, those who have rarely found space in the mainstream of our capitalist American society. When these groups have been portrayed in the mainstream media, they have been presented inaccurately and in a stereotypical, or even polarizing way. Similarly, while the LGBTQ+ community has made strides in its representation in mainstream media, we still see many identified by stereotypical sexual characteristics. This is not our reality, and we are committed to bringing original stories that will represent and speak for these communities, both their strengths and challenges.
Elijah is relevant to the South Asian, working class, Muslim, LGBTQIA+,and other subaltern immigrant communities all at once, as it highlights a struggle that has been largely invisible in mainstream media. The crisis facing gender minorities impacts people of all colors, yet we largely only see the majority's voices and influence. I work within the communities, for the communities, and create equal work opportunities for the community partners to bring their unique stories to light.
This screening is only open to audiences in Oregon.
This screening features 2 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the film title buttons on the top right.
The coming-out story of a second-generation Bengali American who desires to live life fully as a man in a trans-phobic immigrant culture. The film explores the challenges faced by the protagonist within his traditional immigrant family and community. It's a heartfelt and powerful narrative that sheds light on the struggles and resilience of LGBTQIA+ individuals in conservative environments.
Director Biography - Razid Season
Born in Abu Dhabi & raised in Dhaka, Razid Season is a Bengali/Bangladeshi filmmaker based in New York. He is the founder of a non-profit, Image Maker Films Inc. Besides, he has worked as a freelance project evaluator for POV. He was an invited jury at the Plural+ Youth Film Festival 2022, run by UNAOC and IOM. He has an MFA in Film from CCNY. He has received several awards for his films, including the NYMAN Award (2018 & 2019), the Best Director award from SAIFF 2020, Honourable Mention from Columbus Jewish Film Festival 2020, and ISA Los Angeles. He won the 2022 New York Grant under the New York State Arts Development Fund for his current short film, "Elijah," which tells the story of a South Asian transgender man. His films have premiered at the 43rd Asian American Film Festival in New York, the Buffalo International Film Festival, the Williamsburg International Film Festival, and the Polish Film Festival of Los Angeles. His film, Kaddish, which focuses on the human spirit, has been premiered in dozens of film festivals around the globe. The film also made its CUNY TV premiere in 2023, Yiddishkayt Initiative in 2022, and The Archeological Channel's web streaming in 2021. It ranked as one of the top 10 independent short fiction works by Cinema Daily US. Razid is interested in making films that deal with humanitarian issues, and he wants his films to be a tool to advocate for those underprivileged communities whose voices are not heard in the mainstream media. He is currently working on his first feature film script.
Director Statement
In Elijah, I deal with the topic of gender identity and a working class color immigrant family, and its breadwinner who became victims of American dream. I personally volunteered for hundreds of transgender youth who were going through their crisis, and I also volunteered for Yellow and Green Cab taxi drivers in New York City, many of them were people of color, and some of them faced bankruptcy due to crashing taxi medallion values in New York City. My goal was to highlight the impacted minorities, those who have rarely found space in the mainstream of our capitalist American society. When these groups have been portrayed in the mainstream media, they have been presented inaccurately and in a stereotypical, or even polarizing way. Similarly, while the LGBTQ+ community has made strides in its representation in mainstream media, we still see many identified by stereotypical sexual characteristics. This is not our reality, and we are committed to bringing original stories that will represent and speak for these communities, both their strengths and challenges.
Elijah is relevant to the South Asian, working class, Muslim, LGBTQIA+,and other subaltern immigrant communities all at once, as it highlights a struggle that has been largely invisible in mainstream media. The crisis facing gender minorities impacts people of all colors, yet we largely only see the majority's voices and influence. I work within the communities, for the communities, and create equal work opportunities for the community partners to bring their unique stories to light.
