Special Screening: The Glassworker

Usman Riaz is the cofounder of Mano Animation Studios, Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animation studio. A multifaceted talent, Usman has made significant strides in various creative fields. A recipient of a full scholarship at Berklee College of Music, Usman’s musical journey is marked by his albums Flashes & Sparks and Circus in the Sky, both released with EMI Pakistan. His prowess extends to filmmaking, having written, directed, and scored notable short films like RUCKUS and The Waves, with the latter being an Official Selection at the 2013 New York City Independent Film Festival.

His ambitious project, The Glassworker, showcases his storytelling and animation skills, promising to be a significant addition to his portfolio. Under Usman’s leadership, Mano Animation Studios has become a beacon of cultural storytelling and artistic excellence. The release not only marks a significant moment in Pakistani cinema but also elevates traditional animation on the global stage, showcasing its enduring charm over transient CGI trends. Usman Riaz’s artistic contributions continue to inspire a new generation of creators and storytellers worldwide.

Victor graduated from Emerson in 1997. Since that time, he has worked for Avid, Genarts, Editshare and now BorisFX. He has also been involved in local festivals, including Anime Boston, where he was a founding member. He spent twenty years with Anime Boston, including seventeen years on the executive board, four of which, as Chairman. He was also a member of the Boston Asian American Film Festival, working with figures such as George Takei, David Henry Hwang and Ang Lee.

Victor graduated from Emerson in 1997. Since that time, he has worked for Avid, Genarts, Editshare and now BorisFX. He has also been involved in local festivals, including Anime Boston, where he was a founding member. He spent twenty years with Anime Boston, including seventeen years on the executive board, four of which, as Chairman.

He was also a member of the Boston Asian American Film Festival, working with figures such as George Takei, David Henry Hwang and Ang Lee. He is proud to return to his roots at Emerson College and work with ArtsEmerson and the Museum of Science to present The Glassworker.

Aizaz, a member of Subdrift Boston, is interested in exploring the emergent, subterranean forms of political practices adopted by Pakistani youth. He hopes to study how Lahori youth push the boundaries of socially acceptable behavior and seek to escape (and in the process reshape) society’s increasingly restrictive standards by engaging in activities such as: fashion, social media, illicit dating, and substance use.

Some of the key questions defining Aizaz’s research are: What is the political potential of “fun” in the Islamic Republic? To what extent do such “fun” activities empower Pakistani youth to push the multifarious restrictions that diminish and limit their lives? And what does it mean, subjectively, for these youth to reclaim power over their bodies, selves, and create alternative spaces?