A blend of 13 stories charting across the Pakistani experience and featuring a diverse play of light, camera, performance, observation, hope, memories, regrets and the search for peace and transcendence…acclaimed director Umar Riaz’s ‘Parallel Stream’ collects his short films, music videos and meaningful branded content to give you a once in a decade experience.

“…an emotionally charged show that has you feeling empowered one minute, and then weepy and teary eyed the next. It’s a mosaic of textures and stories told from the heart.” - Khadija Muzaffar, The Friday Times

THE PROGRAM

Beginning with ‘Last Remarks’ - the Student Oscar nominated short film and also the first Pakistani short to premiere in competition at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival - ‘Parallel Stream’ takes a journey through Umar Riaz’s filmic and personal journey through the past decade. From his exploration of memory, loss and the passage of time in his hometown Lahore (‘Dadra’ for Zeb and Haniya) to highlighting the ebullient joys of rural life and music ‘Mahi Mera’ for Ali Sethi) to a nostalgic tribute to icon Madam Noor Jehan (‘Gul-e-Daudi’ / ‘The Chrysanthemum’ for EMI Pakistan Ltd.) to groundbreaking explorations of urban life (‘Dil Lagaayein for Ali Sethi’) to South Asian futurism (‘Ishq’ for Ali Sethi), over the course of 90 minutes ‘Parallel Stream’ ventures and veers into the multi-faceted steams of South Asian culture, consciousness, bringing forth a sensory, alternate yet unique view of the human experience.

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AVAILABLE AT THIS SPACE SOON

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Umar Riaz is the name behind many diverse artistic works in Pakistan as well as internationally in the past decade. He trained at the prestigious Graduate Film Program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where he was taught by Spike Lee, was an Ang Lee Scholar, and, was the first Pakistani admitted into the program with alumni such as Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone, Ang Lee, Jim Jarmusch and many others.

His first professional work in film was as part of the editing team for legendary American director Terrence Malick (‘Badlands’ ‘The Thin Red Line’ and ‘The Tree of Life’) for ‘Knight of Cups’(2016) and ‘Song to Song’(2018).

He was the first Pakistani filmmaker to have a short film featured In Competition at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival. His award winning short films have subsequently been screened at numerous important film festivals.

In 2020, he was among select filmmakers to represent Pakistan at the Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai. The Pavilion went on to win the Silver Award for Best Exhibition design at the Expo 2020 awards out of 192 countries.  

An avid music lover, Riaz has directed music videos for Ali Sethi, Zeb and Haniya, Meesha Shafi, Jimmy Khan and others. He frequently shares his knowledge and experience with young film and fine art talents at LUMS and NCA as a visiting instructor.