About Dawat
Runtime: 16 minutes
Language: Bengali
Genre: Short
Dawat is the story of a young Bengali-American woman struggling against her family’s expectations to follow her dreams. Told over the course of a classic Bengali family dinner party, Dawat explores the intergenerational relationship between a mother and her daughter as they come to terms with their pride and traditions in the face of a huge decision.
Cast: Nafiul Bahri- Kamal Shireen Bakul- Maa Reshma Chowdhury- Reshma Chachi Sita Sarkar- Ishita
Director: Juhi Sharma
Juhi Sharma is a New York, Dallas and Chennai based filmmaker working in documentaries, fiction films, music videos and branded content. She has an MFA in Cinematography and a Diploma in Digital Photography. Her film “Walk of Fame,” with Dir. Blaine Morris premiered at the Oscar Qualifying NY Shorts International Film Festival. Her directorial debut, “Skinny Love” premiered at the Alternative Film Festival in Toronto and was the Official Selection at the Newark International Film Festival and Adirondack International Film Festival. Films she has directed and shot have been nominated for National Film Awards of India, and have premiered at the Kolkata International Film Festival, Oaxaca Film Festival, Filmmakers without Borders, NewFest and DocNYC amongst others. Her focus drives her to understand the universal thread of emotion that unites us all and she is passionate about retelling stories of the under-appreciated from her community.