Dastgir is disappearing. How embarrassing! And, does health insurance cover this?
Watch the full film.
Watch the full film.
Often, I live in a snippet of a grainy 1983 interview of a cherished director. On a beach, Ousmane Sembène wags a finger at a journalist, “I am the sun!” In my mind, the video loops. Ousmane yells, “I am the sun! I am the sun! I AM THE SUN!” Dastgir is the sun.
Among my early forays, with Dastgir is Disappearing I wanted to establish that the camera's eye is for me – for us! For those of us who struggle against economic and cultural imperialism, and tire in it.
As of December 2025, the film has been screened worldwide at nine festivals, including at the Canadian Screen Awards qualifying Mosaic International Film Festival. It has been nominated for six awards, and has met with critical acclaim.
Among my early forays, with Dastgir is Disappearing I wanted to establish that the camera's eye is for me – for us! For those of us who struggle against economic and cultural imperialism, and tire in it.
As of December 2025, the film has been screened worldwide at nine festivals, including at the Canadian Screen Awards qualifying Mosaic International Film Festival. It has been nominated for six awards, and has met with critical acclaim.
Written and Directed by Khwaja Hamzah Saif
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CAST
Dastgir — Shaan Sharma
Frida — Neagheen Homaifar
Alex — Benjamin Olneck-Brown
Sara — Behishta Ishanzai
HR Rep — Carey Bibb
Ethnocentric Ehsan — Maryam Mustafa
Shamroosh — Omar Pitras Waqar
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CREW
Editor — Khwaja Hamzah Saif
Gaffer — Ilana Alazzeh
Sound Production — Faraz Salahuddin & Khadija Mehter
Sound Design — Khwaja Hamzah Saif
Casting Director — Imaan Khan
Casting Agency — M A Casting
Sound Track — Omid Jam Vinyls & Kabul Dreams
First AD — Omar Pitras Waqar
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CAST
Dastgir — Shaan Sharma
Frida — Neagheen Homaifar
Alex — Benjamin Olneck-Brown
Sara — Behishta Ishanzai
HR Rep — Carey Bibb
Ethnocentric Ehsan — Maryam Mustafa
Shamroosh — Omar Pitras Waqar
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CREW
Editor — Khwaja Hamzah Saif
Gaffer — Ilana Alazzeh
Sound Production — Faraz Salahuddin & Khadija Mehter
Sound Design — Khwaja Hamzah Saif
Casting Director — Imaan Khan
Casting Agency — M A Casting
Sound Track — Omid Jam Vinyls & Kabul Dreams
First AD — Omar Pitras Waqar
FESTIVAL SCREENINGS
BOSTON INDIE FILM FESTIVAL (Nominee: Best Short) | Jun 7th, 2025 (Boston)
LISBON INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL | Jun 14th, 2025 (Lisbon)
REALE FILM FESTIVAL (Honorable Mention: Best Original Idea) | Jun 30th, 2025 (Milan)
NIGHT OF SHORTS (Honorable Mention: Best Surreal Film) | Jun 30th, 2025 (Milan)
PEOPLE VERSUS TV FILM FESTIVAL | Jul 4th, 2025 (Liverpool)
VIENNA INDIE FILM FESTIVAL (Semi Finalist: Best Short) | Jul 31st, 2025 (Vienna)
BEST SHORT FEST (Semi Finalist: Best Short) | Sept 19th, 2025 (Ontario)
SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Semi Finalist: Best Short) | Sept 30th, 2025 (Sacramento)
MOSAIC INTERNATIONAL SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL | Nov 25th, 2025 (Mississauga)
FLORIDA SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL | Mar 22nd, 2026 (Edison)
LISBON INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL | Jun 14th, 2025 (Lisbon)
REALE FILM FESTIVAL (Honorable Mention: Best Original Idea) | Jun 30th, 2025 (Milan)
NIGHT OF SHORTS (Honorable Mention: Best Surreal Film) | Jun 30th, 2025 (Milan)
PEOPLE VERSUS TV FILM FESTIVAL | Jul 4th, 2025 (Liverpool)
VIENNA INDIE FILM FESTIVAL (Semi Finalist: Best Short) | Jul 31st, 2025 (Vienna)
BEST SHORT FEST (Semi Finalist: Best Short) | Sept 19th, 2025 (Ontario)
SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Semi Finalist: Best Short) | Sept 30th, 2025 (Sacramento)
MOSAIC INTERNATIONAL SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL | Nov 25th, 2025 (Mississauga)
FLORIDA SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL | Mar 22nd, 2026 (Edison)