Pakistan superstar Fawad Khan has signed onto two projects while Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor has joined veteran director Jahnu Barua’s latest film at the inaugural Tasveer Film Market. The Seattle-based South Asia-focused market concluded recently.
Khan will headline “Behind the Scenes,” a newsroom thriller developed by Modoxy Media and Film Lab++. The dark comedy brings together filmmakers Mehreen Jabbar (“Jackson Heights”), Sarmad Khoosat (“Joyland”), and Mo Naqvi (“Insha’Allah Democracy”).
The actor is also set to play a key role in “The Prisoner,” a crime thriller series for Awedacious Originals. Based on Omar Shahid’s bestseller, the 1990s-set Pakistani drama is created by Parisa Siddiqi and Ahmer Khan. Khan will play one of the two daring cops who embark on a covert mission to topple Karachi’s powerful mafia-like political party. Awedacious, led by Apoorva Bakshi and Monisha Thyagarajan, has additionally picked up documentary “Disruption” by Sarvnik Kaur (Sundance winner “Against the Tide”), which chronicles a conflict between an Indian farmer and a British corporation.
Meanwhile, Monga Kapoor joins Barua’s India-Australia co-production “Whistle in the Wind” as project mentor. The film marks another international venture for the producer behind Oscar winner “The Elephant Whisperers.”
The market saw Lotus Visual Productions unveil “NISA” from writer-director Ambarien Alqadar, exploring the personal journey of a 28-year-old Muslim woman confronting life’s challenges; and “Lone Star Hijra” directed by Sheila Sawhny, the story of an Indian-American transgender woman’s quest for sisterhood.
Rita Meher’s Luminary Pictures, partnering with executive producer Zaki Chinde, revealed development deals for “The Pharaoh of Pharma,” “The Chili Score” by Vinny Anand and Ronald Austin, and “Good Girls” by Hira Sheraz.
The event kicked off with an investor lunch attended by industry figures including Shobha Sant (Creativeland Studios), Ameet Shukla (One Community), Amy Lillard (Washington Filmworks), Meg Kiernan (Amazon MGM Studios), Samir Sarkar (Magic Hour Films) and Tenten Wei (EST N8).
“The collaborations formed here reflect the remarkable talent and vision within our community,” said Meher, who serves as executive director of the market. “This market has not only brought diverse creators together but has also created a table where filmmakers, producers, and industry leaders can exchange ideas, build relationships, and forge new paths for South Asian narratives on the global stage. It’s inspiring to see these projects come to life, and I’m proud that the inaugural Tasveer Film Market could serve as a platform for such incredible talent and meaningful partnerships.”
Associate director Anupama Bose added: “The enthusiasm and response from industry professionals has been remarkable. We look forward to witnessing the journey of the first batch of Tasveer Film Market projects.”
