Here! Films, the
theatrical distribution and worldwide sales division of
here! Networks, has acquired North American distribution
rights to The World Unseen, a new film from director
Shamim Sarif.
The film is an
official selection of Outfest 2008: The 26th Los Angeles
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Written, directed,
financed, and produced entirely by women, the film is
an Enlightenment Productions film, in association with
DO Productions.
In 1950s South
Africa at the beginning of apartheid, free-spirited Amina
(Sheetal Sheth) breaks the law of the new apartheid-led
government by running a cafe with Jacob, her
black business partner. When she meets Miriam (Lisa
Ray), a young wife and mother, their unexpected attraction
pushes Miriam to question the rules that bind her to
traditional roles. As Amina helps Miriam's
sister-in-law to hide from the police, a chain of
events is set in motion that changes both women forever.
The World Unseen has played at film
festivals across the globe and has garnered several
awards recently, including the Silver Medal at the
Verzaubert Film Festival and the Audience Award for
Best Fiction Feature at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film
Festival.
In addition,
director Shamim Sarif received the World Cinema Best
Director prize at the Phoenix Film Festival.
An exact release
date had not been determined. (The Advocate)
