Surviving Surveillance, Catering to America: Shahina Parveen

A screening and discussion with director Sarah K. Khan and members of Asian American Writers’ Workshop, Asian Women Giving Circle, and Desis Rising up and Moving (DRUM)

Part of Changing the Picture, sponsored by Time Warner Inc.

Shahina Parveen’s son, Shahawar Matin Siraj, was imprisoned for a crime he never committed, after being surveilled and detained by the NYPD. His lawyer claimed that Siraj was wrongly arrested in order to be used as a symbol of the war on terror. While fighting her son’s legal case, Shahina learned to support herself and her cause by cooking and catering. Her story is captured in Sarah K. Khan’s powerful new short film Surviving Surveillance, Catering to America: Shahinah Parveen (2017, 10 mins.), presented here in its world premiere. Filmmaker Sarah K. Khan, who has spent over 20 years researching Asian and Middle Eastern healing, food, and agroecological cultures and now works as a multimedia journalist-artist, will also show a two-minute film of Shahina cooking a beef biryani. The screening will be followed by a discussion, with audience participation encouraged, including Sarah K. Khan, Shahina Parveen (schedule permitting), Hali Lee (founder of the Asian Women Giving Circle), and representatives from the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM).

Tickets: $15 (Free for members at the Film Lover and MoMI Kids Premium levels and above). Order tickets online. (Members may contact [email protected] with any questions regarding online reservations.)



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