Shafeeq Vellani: Darwish (1994)

A meditative short film which explores spiritual and physical journeys, seen from the perspective of Sufi culture and traditions. The film features the music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the mesmerising whirling of a dervish (Sufi ritual). It tells the story of a young boy, his taxi-driving father and his wool-spinning grandfather, and their search for home. Funded by the British Film Institute and South West Arts and AVESE.

‘Luminescent and thought provoking’

                                        New York Time Out

The film won 2nd prize at EUROfest Film Festival of Minority Cultures in Europe and has been screened at New York Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, HTV, Barcelona Film Festival in Bilbao, San Diego, Toronto, NFT, Cornerhouse, Leeds International, Pandemonium, London Filmmakers, Battersea Film Festival, Brief Encounters, Tenth Black International Festival, New York, Chicago, LA and Berlin, and START.