Filmmaker Asim Abbasi’s next, Barzakh, starring Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed and produced by Shailja Kejriwal, had its World Premiere at UGC Ciné Cité, Lille on Saturday 19th March as part of this year’s Series Mania Festival. In attendance were writer and director, Asim Abbasi; actors, Sanam Saeed and Franco Giusti; producer, Shailja Kejriwal; and production designer, Aarij Hashimi.
Barzakh is the only selection from South Asia at the festival this year. The web series premiered as part of the International Panorama line-up, a 12-title competitive section, and is also nominated in several categories such as Best Series, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor as well as the Student Jury award and the Audience award. Winners will be announced at the festival’s Closing Ceremony on 24th March.
Held annually in Lille, France, the Series Mania festival, since its inception in 2010, has been instrumental in recognising and curating the best series across the world. The festival brings together the best screenwriters, directors and artistes together under one roof.
A day prior to the premiere, on Friday 17th March, the Barzakh team walked the Red Carpet at the Series Mania Opening Ceremony, which took place at Nouveau Siecle, Lille. The series poster was also unveiled.
Barzakh, which features a stellar ensemble cast, sees Fawad Khan playing the role of a single parent, charming but ridden with guilt for what he has lost. Sanam plays the central female character who is mysterious as well as compassionate. Shot in picturesque Hunza Valley in Pakistan, Barzakh blends together magical realism and supernatural fantasy within a family reunion setting, and deals with themes of love, loss and reconciliation.
