Focus on AFI Conservatory - Veil
A Muslim teenager with a conservative upbringing deals with the consequences of switching her dress into a more revealing outfit with the help of her friend at a high school prom.
Interview with Writer/Director Zahra Golafshani
Watch Veil on the AFI Conservatory Films’ website
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Identity is a very fascinating subject to me; how identities shape, what we do to fit in, and how we find true belonging. I guess the fascination began when I found myself in a new city and in a new country, yet another time. I had been rooted and uprooted so many times I had lost count. And yet, once again, I was faced with the same question: who am I and where do I come from.
One of my earliest memories of trying to answer these questions was from the time I had migrated from Iran to Canada and my quest on finding a right group of people to hang out with. VEIL is a fictionalized story of a teenager who attempts at answering those questions.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Growing up is hard, and no one wants to feel like an outcast because of things that construct their identity.
Growing up muslim in a Western culture, you are bound to have split identities and a lot of questioning about your faith and the choices you have to make. This is to normalize the questioning.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Fitting in, assimilation, becoming accepted and most importantly, arriving at self-acceptance, are all universal themes. You don’t necessarily need to be an out-cast to long for other’s approval/ acceptance. There are moments in everyone’s lives that we are faced with making certain choices to gain others approval.
It becomes more personal once you look for those moments in your own life.
VEIL applies this concept to a minority group to show how the stakes get higher.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The original script included Leila’s Iranian family and it was a light-comedy. So, I would say it has changed drastically. Although, I’d say with this version the challenge of establishing culturally relevant things was reduced and the universality of the overall themes got more infused
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Veil/ Hijab, is an important subject to most muslims and by important, I mean tricky or touchy.
My film’s belief regarding veil is that once you are removing the physical veil, you are putting on a different veil that makes you blend in; hiding who you are and your personal beliefs. Wearing a veil in a non-islamic society can make you stand out. Which some would argue is the opposite of its principle; having a veil is to be modest. This Duality is difficult to argue in words little alone, in a short film, from the perspective of a muslim teenage girl.
Thus, it offends some. I’d argue we haven’t had much opportunities to explore these type of stories in our media as we have only seen negative, one-sided portrayal of muslims. Getting exposed to stories like VEIL can challenge some.
On the other hand, some have came to tell us that they or someone they knew went through something similar in their adolescent years. Therefore, those who get offended by a story like VEIL should consider that VEIL represents a true, authentic, untold-story-of-many, going through it.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not at all. As mentioned, I could expect some of the reaction. Some, who weren't familiar with the concept of veil or the stakes it holds, didn't understand/ enjoy the film. and yet, there were some who felt the opposite; they now had a small insight into the lives of those whom they couldn't ever guess.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I'm really grateful that there's a platform like We Are Moving Stories to showcase the work of emerging artists who tell stories of diverse origins.
With the opportunity that We Are Moving Stories has given us I'd love for VEIL to reach a wider audience to create more conversation around this topic, and also to receive feedback on the making of it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Hopefully, with the visibility that We Are Moving Stories will bring us, we would love to have sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors and, journalists to come on board, so we can reach more people to watch the film.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
To create an understanding around the deep personal struggles that someone like Leila has to go through in order to be able to form their beliefs and identity. Every culture & religion has got their own sets of challenges and requires each person to come up with their own way of dealing with them. And, finally, to see a muslim story under a light that's not the usual one-sided, negative representation.
And finally, hoping that one day they can remember this film.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Does belonging mean to fit in, or to present yourself authentically?
Would you like to add anything else?
Lean in to the areas of your life you think you should change to be able to assimilate, to fit in. Those are the areas that actually will help you create your story and will lead you to your path to your own (self) discoveri(es).
What is inspiring about the greatest artists, authors, well-established personalities is that when you look deeply on their journey to success, they all leaned into their own adversities, challenges, or obstructions and turned them into their guiding light, instead.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm currently in development with two features reinforcing the same underlying themes of belonging, feeling accepted and understood.
One is a murder-mystery called ISLANDS, which is a dual narrative that cuts between past and present, and is about the defiant Ojibwe sergeant of a remote cottage community who reckons with the buried trauma of losing her first love as she investigates the recent murder of a girl at the property of her former best friend.
It's written by my Canadian friend Dan Cameron and we are hoping (pandemic permitting) to shoot it in summer of 2022 in Canada.
The other one is a romantic- adventure called LET'S FALL IN LOVE UNTIL WEDNESDAY, that is surely going to be a feel- good movie. I'd explain it as: when an unemployed divorcee accepts an invitation to vacation with her conservative elderly parents in the wilderness of Newfoundland, she meets the bewitching driver of a bus full of chaperones who turns her world upside down.
It's an extremely visual story with un-imaginable landscapes. Whales, icebergs and Northern lights, to name a few.
Interview: August 2021
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Veil
Length:
9:00
Writer/Director
ZAHRA GOLAFSHANI is a Los Angeles-based, Iranian director currently prepping to direct a TV movie for a Canadian Television network. Accolades include several consecutive nominations and wins for her short films at Academy Award & Canadian Screen Award qualifying film festivals. She received her BFA degree with honors in Canada and holds a MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute. Zahra has received mentorship from acclaimed filmmakers such as Zal Batmanglij (the OA) and Chinonye Chukwu (CLEMENCY).
Producer
Growing up in a single-mother Taiwanese household, DANIEL LEIGHTON's upbringing reflects his interest in stories from under-served, minority and fringe perspectives that often focus on delving deeply into idea or issues that are not well examined. He produces projects from diverse and passionate storytellers with clear voices and is deeply interested in how story and character moves audiences. His films have been shown on HBO, Amazon, Funny or Die, Short of the Week and have played at countless film festivals throughout the world. He has an MFA in producing from the American Film Institute Conservatory and degrees in film studies and English literature from UC Davis. He loves animals and has a deep fascination with deep, dark water and deep, dark space.
Key cast:
Jennalyn Ponraj (Leila), Danielle Larracuente (Valeria), Christopher Avila (Milo)
Looking for:
sales agents, journalists, distributors, film festival directors, buyers
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Veilthemovie
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/veil_themovie/
Hashtags used:
#veil #veilanafithesisfilm #veilthemovie
More info:
Made in association with:
AFI Conservatory