Director, artist and graphic designer Ali Godil premiered “American-istan,” a film that poignantly examines the immigrant experience during the pre-digital era, based on the true story of his parents’ reunion and arranged marriage in America during the 1980s. With an eye toward increasing the aperture of what it means to be American, Ali’s short injects an intimate narrative with a stylized Bollywood veneer.
Click HERE to view the film.
Synopsis: A rich girl from Pakistan must adjust to lower-class American life after getting an arranged marriage. After leaving her family, Iman sacrifices everything by coming to America. She is forced to confront new expectations from her husband, Salim, and struggle with the roles and dynamics of what life is really like in the land of opportunity versus the fantasy in her head.
Blending romantic colorful scenes pulled straight from 80s-era Bollywood films with stark historical fact, Ali marries the rose-colored glasses of his young mother, the character Iman, with the immigration struggles his father Salim faced (both names were changed), coming to a poignant head in the parking lot of a McDonalds. Acting as a symbol of hope and prosperity, and even luxury, for many Middle Eastern and Asian immigrants of the era arriving in the U.S., Salim's idea of a romantic, authentically American dinner date over McDonald’s fish filets is sharply contrasted by Iman’s expectation of the wealthy lifestyles Americans espoused. Exposing for viewers the power of symbolism and the joy of the present moment in the great rush to economic progress and seeking a better life for your family.
Ali Godil is a Portland-based artist, filmmaker, creative director and designer who believes in the power of beauty, including ethics and aesthetics, to create emotionally impactful concepts, designs and content. He aims to push culture forward with his work, ultimately uplifting the human experience.
About Even/Odd
Even/Odd is a creative studio and production company for bold campaigns, experiences, and original content. Led by the perspectives of our diverse multi-disciplinary talent, we create culture-expanding projects to inspire a new future of art, innovation, and storytelling.
Based in San Francisco & Los Angeles. Collaborating globally.
2024 AICP Awards Tour Concludes with Stops in Dallas and Chicago
The 2024 AICP Awards Tour concludes with stops in Dallas and Chicago this month as it wraps up its tour of cities across the U.S. The National Tour brought presentations, panels and screenings to marketers, advertising agencies, production and post production companies. The AICP Awards will be in Dallas on Thursday, November 14th, at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the Chicago event, set for Thursday, November 21st at The Old Post Office. Tickets are available now for both events at www.aicp.com. In Dallas, the program kicks off at 6:45 pm with a happy hour, followed by the screening and panel discussion at 7:30. The evening ends with a networking reception from 8:30 to 11:30. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas. Appearing in Dallas will be Abe Garcia, Chief Creative Officer, Dieste; Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content, Southwest Airlines; and Isaac Pagán Muñoz, VP, Executive Creative Director of PepsiCo Foods. The panel will review selected winners from the suite of the AICP Awards programs, offering insights into what made them rise to the top of their respective categories and share their viewpoints on key trends in the industry. The Chicago stop starts at 6:00pm with a happy hour, followed by the presentation and screening at 7:00pm. A reception caps the event, starting at 8:00pm and concluding at 11:30pm. The Old Post Office is located at 433 W Van Buren Street in Chicago. The panel there will feature 2024 AICP Awards Curators and Winners from the marketer, agency, production and post production sectors who’ll highlight this year’s winners. The conversation will include a discussion about the winning work, including insights... Read More