THE FILM
THE FILMMAKER
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
My own struggle with the rigid confines of masculinity, a ghost from my youth that has never fully departed, added a layer of personal resonance to this research. This lifelong battle against societal expectations has been less a victory and more a survival tactic, a way to navigate the world without losing oneself completely.
As I delved into the lives of Kashmiri transgender individuals, I discovered that despite the region’s conservative outlook, transgender people have long been accepted as marriage matchmakers and performers at wedding ceremonies, a role that has provided them with a source of livelihood for decades and a considerable degree of acceptance within society.
When I met Shoaib, the film’s protagonist, I immediately realized she is somehow an outsider within the “traditional” transgender community of the valley. She was inspired on her path of gender transformation by Bollywood heroines and social network influencers. She is well-educated, works for a Bangalore-based company, and does not know about matchmaking and conventional Kashmiri transgender traditions. At the same time, she wishes to become a leader and a role model for the entire community. It is for that very reason, as well as for emotional counseling, that she has gotten in touch with Basanti, an elderly transgender person whom I introduced to her.
Their relationship is a delicate dance of empathy and understanding, yet fraught with tension over issues like gender reassignment and lifestyle. These moments reveal the invisible but rigid borders of identity that Shoaib navigates daily, with her imagination serving as a sanctuary where she can transcend the confines of reality.
In chronicling this journey, my aim is to capture not just the visible struggles, but the silent, intimate battles each person faces. Through Shoaib and Basanti, I hope to shed light on the profound resilience and complexity of the human spirit, caught in the timeless dance of fear and love, tradition and transformation.
CO-PRODUCER
ANNEMIEK VAN DER HELL. Graduated in Film and Theatre Science from the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Since then she has worked for Dutch public broadcasters and started Windmill Film in 2010. She produces award-winning documentaries and feature films for film and television as a majority and minority co-producer. Among others, he produced Silence of the Tides, a co-production with Bildersturm Filmproduktion, Germany, in 2020. Stupid Young Heart, a fiction feature, a minority co-production with Tuffi Films Finland and Hobab Sweden, in 2018. Too Far Away, a fiction feature film, minority co-produced with Weydemann Brothers, Germany. In 2017 it was the turn of Playing God, a documentary co-produced with German Bildersturm Filmproduktion, which premiered at HotDocs in 2017. Little Angels, won the Prix Europa 2015 and was shortlisted for the Emmy Awards in 2016. Ghosts from the Past is nominated at the 2014 IDFAs.
PRODUCER
LUIGI ANTONIO CONTE holds a degree in sociology, specializing in the sociology of art with a focus on the cultural identity of postcolonial artists. He is also an alumnus of the Documentary Campus Masterschool in 2022. In 2009, he founded his own production company, Rizoma Film, where he endeavors to merge his passions for cinema and anthropology while targeting international markets. Over the years, Conte has directed and produced multiple documentaries showcased at festivals and distributed on major VOD platforms. Notable recent works include "After Prayers" (2019, 61'), shedding light on Kashmir's struggle for independence; "The Heart of a Doll" (2019, 86'), delving into the romantic life of artist Lulu Rimmel, who perseveres despite her severe disability; and "Le Génie Féminin, Femmes au Vatican" (2018, 52'), addressing gender equality within the Vatican. Recently, Conte has transitioned to focus more on producing, collaborating with emerging directors, particularly from African nations, to explore political and cultural challenges.
CREATIVE PRODUCER
HEMANT GABA is an alumnus of Documentary Campus (Crossing Borders, 2017) a training programme in Germany, Let’s Doc Fellowship of Docedge, Kolkata (2017) and Interdoc, a Creative Documentary Masterclass, Serbia (2019). He is currently pursuing a 6 months residential producing course at Busan Asian Film School. His last film AN ENGINEERED DREAM (2018), a feature documentary received Best Non-Feature Film at National Film Awards, India(2019), Jury Prize at Kerala Documentary Film Festival (2018), a Special Mention at Film Southasia, Nepal (2019); Best Documentary at Independent Film Festival of Chennai (2020); Golden Kapok nomination at Guangzhou Docs, China (2018) and aired on numerous asian tv channels. He is currently running his own company Tuk Tuk Films.
