Make It Look Real

Make It Look Real

by Danial Shah

Synopsis

A local photo studio in Pakistan serves as a vibrant cultural hub where personal dreams and community connections are brought to life through photography. The filmmaker, a displaced native, partners with Sakhi, a photographer yearning for a life abroad, to explore the aesthetics and economics of image-making shaped by socio-political influences and social class. As customers enter with their unique fantasies and desires, each photograph emerges as a powerful representation of their aspirations, reflecting the intricate interplay between identity and longing.

CREDITS

With Muhammad Sakhi
Camera and Sound: Danial Shah
Editing: Sébastien Demeffe
Sound Mix and Design: Thomas Ferrando
A film developed in the framework of SIC.
Co-producers: Video Power (NL) and Atelier Graphoui (BE).

More information

Year: 2023
Duration: 48′
Language: Vo French
Subtitles: English, French

Web site: https://www.danialshah.com

Projections – Screenings

International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 11/2024
Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, Thessaloniki, Greece, 03/2025
True/False Film Fest, Columbia, USA, 02/2025
Festival de cinéma En Ville !, Bruxelles, Belgium, 01/2025
Margaret Mead Film Festival, New York, USA, 05/2025
Rung Film Festival, Houston, USA, 04/2025
  • https://soundimageculture.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Functioning-Photographs_snapshot_1.png
  • https://soundimageculture.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Functioning-Photographs_snapshot_3.png