Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg Campus Magazin 23/24

INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS
How did you come across the Filmakademie?
Could you tell us a bit about your role here?
I was selected for the ifa cross-culture fellowship for
two and a half months and that’s what led me to do
an internship. Part of my job is to help the international
Office here to arrange their International Class. I also
attended a few courses at the Animationsinstitut and
helped some first-year students with their film projects.
Regarding the courses at FABW, did you have any
favourites?
Oh yes! I really liked the German Film History class.
It was so insightful! I loved learning about how films
evolved here over time and how different filmmakers
approached German cinema. There was also a course at
the Animationsinstitut about ‘Facial Expressions in Maya’
which was very informative.
What would your message be to the people who
are trying to achieve some form of success in
such a field of study and profession?
In my situation for instance, I definitely believe there is
a lot of difference in language and hence, the communication
is often difficult. The good thing is that now is
a time and an age of technology, so no one is bound by
their language or any other limit. I don’t know German
but I don’t find it difficult here. But I must confess that
I am definitely missing the food I had in Pakistan. We
are used to spicy food and here that doesn’t seem to exist.
(laughs) But joking aside, there’s always a way to fight
these small battles and get ahead and that is what my
message would be.
The interview was conducted by Riyaaz Roy
What are your experiences here, being an international,
especially from a country as far away
and culturally different as Pakistan?
It is very... very interesting! I had never travelled anywhere
alone before, so it was definitely exciting for me
as I was going through this experience. I hardly knew
anything about immigration and as I was travelling via
plane, I never saw the sunset which made me wonder
why the day never ended! In Pakistan, we have darkness
by 7:00 pm but here, the sun never seems to set. The
first time I arrived here, I was wondering how I would
sleep as I am programmed to go to sleep only in the dark.
Also the weather is so much better back home, it’s way
warmer there. But it’s definitely so easy to adjust here
as the quality of food and facilities is so good. And I’m
just happy because I got myself a bike and now I ride it
everywhere!
In your country, who do you consider a role model,
acting as an example for you in your line of
work?
The first name which comes to my mind is Sharmeen
Obaid-Chinoy, her film A GIRL IN THE RIVER: THE
PRICE OF FORGIVENESS won an Oscar®. Secondly, Haroon
Rashid, who’s a singer but is also known for creating
BURKA AVENGER. I really had a remarkable time
working in the team and I learned a lot from him.
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