Narrative Short Competition presented by You42
If I Die in America
According to Muslim practice, burial ought to occur within 24 hours of death — so after Manny’s immigrant husband, Sameer, passes away in an accident, he is confronted by a representative of Sameer’s family urging him to sign the paperwork needed to ship the body back to Kuwait. Manny initially refuses, clinging to his rights as Sameer's husband, while knowing that with every passing hour, Sameer's family grow more infuriated. After an emotional climax, spurred on by the family’s homophobic claim that Manny and Sameer’s marriage was merely a green-card arrangement, Manny comes to realize that his objections won't change the fact that his husband died — try as he might, he cannot delay grief.
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.
Film Screenings
Credits
Director: | Ward Kamel |
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Producer: | Adrián Lausell Cabán, Cameron Morton |
Screenwriter: | Ward Kamel |
Cinematographer: | Idil Eryurekli |
Editor: | Nathaniel Stevens |
Production Designer: | Sophia Uehara |
Sound Designer: | Pat Zimmon |
Principal Cast: | Gil Perez-Abraham, Hana Chamoun, George Shakkour, Moud Sabra, Ilham Malki |
Additional Credits: | Assistant Director: Catrin Ody, Costume Designer: Isabella Evans, Assoc. Producer: Yasemin Bilgen |
Contact
Public Film Contact: | Ward Kamel |
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Publicity Contact: | Adrián Lausell Cabán |