Sandstorm

Seemab Gul

20 min

Pakistan / UK

2021

Zara, a schoolgirl in Karachi, shares a sensual dance video with her virtual boyfriend, who then blackmails her. Caught between his manipulative behaviour and the desire to experience love on her own terms, Zara searches for the strength to reject the confines of a patriarchal society.

Director and screenwriter from Pakistan,  her documentary Zahida, was broadcast on Al Jazeera and won the Audience Award at Tasveer SAFF. Her short film Sandstorm premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival and in competition at Sundance 2022.