ABOUT
THE SYED FAMILY XMAS EVE GAME NIGHT follows Noor, a queer Pakistani Muslim woman who brings her Puerto Rican girlfriend home for the first time on the family's annual game night -- which happens to fall on Christmas Eve! All cards are on the table when Noor's eldest sister unexpectedly shows up, sending the night into chaos and putting all their relationships to the test. The short film explores themes of sisterhood, belonging, and breaking the rules of tradition.
WHY NOW?
A landmark report from USC's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Pillars Fund underscores what we've been feeling as queer Muslim women and non-binary people in the film industry: "Muslim characters are missing in popular film."
Muslims makes up 24% of the world's population, but the report found that out of nearly 9,000 film speaking parts, fewer than 2% were Muslim with only one LGBTQ+ Muslim character. View the report here.
We created THE SYED FAMILY XMAS EVE GAME NIGHT as a romantic comedy to normalize our identities on screen and to lift up the importance of joy in our experiences, something that is so needed during these times.
WHY NOW?
A landmark report from USC's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Pillars Fund underscores what we've been feeling as queer Muslim women and non-binary people in the film industry: "Muslim characters are missing in popular film."
Muslims makes up 24% of the world's population, but the report found that out of nearly 9,000 film speaking parts, fewer than 2% were Muslim with only one LGBTQ+ Muslim character. View the report here.
We created THE SYED FAMILY XMAS EVE GAME NIGHT as a romantic comedy to normalize our identities on screen and to lift up the importance of joy in our experiences, something that is so needed during these times.
PREMIERES:
World Premiere
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PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
SpeakOut Films, Luchima Productions, and Baby Daal Productions
FULL CREW
Directed by Fawzia Mirza
Written & Produced by Kausar Mohammed
Produced by Amalia Mesa-Gustin
Executive Producers: Nitasha Sawhney, Kulmeet Dang, X. Eyee, Lisa Henderson
Co-Producer: Krystal MacKnight
Associate Producers: Felicia Gustin & Tina Gurney
Director of Photography: Patrick Ouziel
Editor: Shelley Therrien
Production Designer: Gerin del Carmen
First Assistant Director: Vivian Miranda
First Assistant Camera: Breanna Heard
Gaffer: Lisa Tom
Steadicam Op: Merlin Showalter
Sound Mixer/Boom Op; Annie Villalobos
Art Director: Saalika Khan
Hair/Makeup: Myishia Jackson-Barnett
COVID Compliance Coordinator: Alysha Menakaya
Producer's Assistant: Nishima Gupta
Sound Editor/Mixer: John Wong
Motion Graphics/VFX: Asis Sethi
Graphic Artist: Naureen Meyer
SpeakOut Films, Luchima Productions, and Baby Daal Productions
FULL CREW
Directed by Fawzia Mirza
Written & Produced by Kausar Mohammed
Produced by Amalia Mesa-Gustin
Executive Producers: Nitasha Sawhney, Kulmeet Dang, X. Eyee, Lisa Henderson
Co-Producer: Krystal MacKnight
Associate Producers: Felicia Gustin & Tina Gurney
Director of Photography: Patrick Ouziel
Editor: Shelley Therrien
Production Designer: Gerin del Carmen
First Assistant Director: Vivian Miranda
First Assistant Camera: Breanna Heard
Gaffer: Lisa Tom
Steadicam Op: Merlin Showalter
Sound Mixer/Boom Op; Annie Villalobos
Art Director: Saalika Khan
Hair/Makeup: Myishia Jackson-Barnett
COVID Compliance Coordinator: Alysha Menakaya
Producer's Assistant: Nishima Gupta
Sound Editor/Mixer: John Wong
Motion Graphics/VFX: Asis Sethi
Graphic Artist: Naureen Meyer
FILM FESTIVALS: