A Pakistani-American housewife plays the gracious host at her party on the day she has her miscarriage.
Shazia's just found out her pregnancy isn't viable, and the editor she hoped would acquire her book on the Partition of India has been rejected. Her husband Tariq thinks they should cancel, but Shazia refuses. He's been gunning for a promotion at work, the chicken’s been marinating for a few hours, and she’d rather stay busy. But when Shazia’s anxiousness about her impending miscarriage heightens, this cultural expectation of always being a gracious hostess is put to the test.
Pakistani-American filmmaker, Afia, loves pushing the boundaries of narrative storytelling. Her debut feature Dukhtar (Daughter) premiered at Toronto (2014) becoming Pakistan’s Official Submission for Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards®. The film played to critical acclaim in over 20 countries to rave reviews and became the Critics’ Pick (Village Voice) and the People Magazine’s Pick of the Week. The film has won several awards including Adrienne Shelly award for Directors, Audience Award at Creteil, Best World Feature at Sonoma, Best Director + Best Feature Film at SAIFF. Afia has been featured in the Variety, NYT, Indiewire, NPR, Huffington Post and Screen Daily. Variety says, “Nathaniel proves her mettle in a national industry where distaff directors are rare” with Indiewire labeling Dukhtar as “groundbreaking”, New York Times calling it “exquisite” and LA Times billing it as a “gorgeous, suspenseful cinematic achievement”. Afia was nominated for a Gotham award (2013) and the Women Film Critics Circle award (2015) for the “Best Foreign Film by or About Women”. She is an alumnus of IFP, TFI, Film Independent and Berlin Talent Project Market. She has received support from HBO, Netflix, National Geographic, Tribeca Film Institute, Cinereach, WIF, NYFA, IFFR, SORFOND, NYSCA + Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
There is no screening history. Submitted to Sundance just now.
Finalist for Best Short Narrative Screenplay - Austin Film Festival 2022
Finalist - CAPE Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge 2024
