Trans Kashmir

Director: Surbhi Dewan and S.A. Hanan
Release Year: 2022

Trans Kashmir, a 2020 documentary directed by Surbhi Dewan and S.A. Hanan, sheds light on the marginalized transgender women of Kashmir, who have been integral to their society for generations. Traditionally, these individuals have worked as matchmakers and performers, playing significant roles in social and cultural spheres. However, their gender identity, coupled with the region’s socio-political and economic challenges, positions them among the most vulnerable populations globally. The documentary offers an intimate and poignant portrayal of their culture, resilience, and struggle for basic human rights, and showcases the efforts of prominent gender rights activist Aijaz Ahmad Bund to secure a better future for the transgender community.

Showgirls of Pakistan

Director: Saad Khan
Release Year: 2020

"Showgirls of Pakistan" (2020), directed by Lahore-born filmmaker Saad Khan, offers an intimate and unflinching look into the world of mujra dancers in contemporary Pakistan. The documentary follows the lives of three performers from Punjab - Afreen, Uzma, and Reema - as they navigate the brutal landscape of censorship, social prejudice, and misogyny.

Chuppan Chupai

Directors: Saad Khan & Saadat Munir
Release Year: 2013

Chuppan Chupai (2013), directed by Saad Khan and Saadat Munir, is a raw and unflinching documentary that sheds light on the lives of sexual minorities in Pakistan, particularly transgender people and queer individuals navigating a deeply conservative and religious society. The title Chuppan Chupai, which translates to "Hide and Seek," aptly captures the central theme of the film: the tension between visibility and concealment, between seeking social acceptance and hiding one’s identity in the face of societal persecution.