Special Discount codes for film blocks and Grand Features listed below!

Rūng Film Fest aims to create a platform that elevates voices often overlooked in mainstream cinema—creatives of color, by showcasing and awarding original stories told through the lens of Pakistani filmmakers that shatter stereotypes and challenge biases, promoting diversity and cultivating connections with the global creative community.

We’ve received more than 80 films in our inaugural year from filmmakers of Pakistani heritage from around the world and we’re excited to showcase the top selections by our jury of stellar actors, writers and filmmakers.

Grand Jury, Audience Choice, and Honorary awards will be distributed to the top 3 films in each category on May 4th and 5th at the awards ceremony in the evening.

Rūng Film Fest is an Indus Arts Council program. Indus Arts Council is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization registered in Texas.

SATURDAY, MAY 4 & SUNDAY, MAY 5

FILM BLOCKS

TICKETS: $15 per Film Block
^{(Ticket includes all panel admission for both days)}

Receive a 50% discount on all film blocks by using the discount code Block50 at checkout!

Each film block will showcase 3-4 films in Matchbox 3

• FILM BLOCK 1:  SAT, 5/4, 11 AM to 2 PM  -  GET TICKETS
  • Inevitable by Amna Rehman (US), Runtime: 5 min.
  • BOJH-The Unseen Burden by Mohammad Awais Hassan (Pakistan), Runtime: 10 min.
  • From Sweden with Love by Muhammad Umar Saeed (Pakistan), Runtime: 15 min.
  • Desi Standard Time Travel by Kashif Pasta (Canada), Runtime: 20 min.
  • How She Moves by Anya Raza, Aisha Linnea Akhtar (Pakistan), Runtime: 20 min.
  • #LiveLikeHaris by Amina Chaudary, Beth Murphy (US), Runtime: 51 min.
• FILM BLOCK 2:  SAT, 5/4, 2:45 PM to 5 PM  -  GET TICKETS
  • The Java Plum Tree by Rafay Rashdi (Canada), Runtime: 34 min.
  • Made with Love by Kainat Thebo (Pakistan) , Runtime: 15 min.
  • How to Wash The Dead by Asad Kirmani (US), Runtime: 17 min
  • Bhashaili (Adrift) by Jawad Sharif (Pakistan), Runtime: 60 min.
• FILM BLOCK 3:  SUN, 5/5, 11 AM to 2 PM  -  GET TICKETS
  • Oli Kahuli by Muhammad Ali Ijaz (US), Runtime: 14 min.
  • Identity by Suraj Gunjal (India), Runtime: 24 min.
  • The After: A Chef's Wish by Umar Riaz (US), Runtime: 26 min.
  • We Will Be Brave by Chrisann Hessing (Canada), Runtime: 79 min.
• FILM BLOCK 4:  SUN, 5/5, 2:45 PM to 5 PM  -  GET TICKETS
  • Karachi at Night by Shahbano Farid (US), Runtime: 15 min.
  • Lamya's Poem by Alex Kronemer (US), Runtime: 89 min.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

TICKETS: $10

Matchbox 3

• Ramadan America Anthology: SAT, 5/4, 5 PM - GET TICKETS
  • Ramadan America is an anthology of five independent short narrative films with unique characters, themed around Ramadan and Eid, and spanning a number of genres. 

PANELS 

TICKETS: FREE with Film Block Purchase ($15)
LIMITED SEATING

Each panel is 30 minutes long including Q&A in Rehearsal Room 1.

• PANEL 1: SAT, 5/4, 2 PM - FREE with Film Block purchase.
  • Filming in Houston & Texas: The good, the bad and the ugly. Challenges and opportunities of filming in Texas.
  • Panelists include:
    • Moderator: Fatima Hye
    • Taylor Jackson (Houston Arts Alliance)
    • Shuja Uddin (Film Professor Austin Community College
    • Michelle Mowler (Producer)
    • Alfred Cervantes (Houston Film Commission)
• PANEL 2: SAT, 5/4, 5 PM - FREE with Film Block purchase.
  • Behind the Camera Stories: Lessons to be learned for filmmaker/funny stories.
  • Panelists include:
    • Moderator: Khurram Azim 
    • Kamran Shaikh (Actor / RFF Advisor)
    • Rafay Rashdi (Director)
    • Halimah Iman (Actor/Writer)
    • Alan Noel Vega (Producer)
• PANEL 3: SUN, 5/5, 2 PM - FREE with Film Block purchase.
  • Creating South Asian lead roles for global audiences: What is done and what are we missing?
  • Panelists include:
    • Moderator: Arshia Hasnain
    • Faran Tahir (Actor, RFF Advisor)
    • Mahesh Sriram (Actor)
    • Pamela Monroe (Producer)
    • Kashif Pasta (Director)
• PANEL 4: SUN, 5/5, 5 PM - FREE with Film Block purchase.
  • Females in Films: Role of females in filmmaking and the need to understand the business!
  • Panelists include:
    • Moderator: Zehra Nawab
    • Tanya Hoshi (Producer)
    • Sadia Uqaili (Filmmaker, RFF Advisor)
    • Nighat Shah (Producer)
    • Michelle Mowler (Producer)
    • Randee Ramsey (Producer SWAMP)

LIMITED SEATING

GRAND FEATURE & AWARDS RECEPTION

TICKETS: $50

• IN FLAMES/Grand Jury Awards: 5/4, 6:30 PM to 10 PM - GET TICKETS
• Receive a 50% discount on the Saturday Grand Feature and Awards by using the discount code Sat50 at checkout!
  • Feature Movie: IN FLAMES & Grand Jury Awards Reception
  • In Flames officially selected for Cannes 2023 & TIFF 2023
  • In Flames won Red Sea 2023 (Golden Yusr Prize).
• Entangled/Audience Choice Awards: 5/5, 6:30 PM to 10 PM - GET TICKETS
• Receive a 50% discount on the Sunday Grand Feature and Awards by using the discount code Sun50 at checkout! 
  • Feature Movie: Entangled (Gunjal) & Audience Choice Awards Reception
  • Entangled (Gunjal) officially selected for 14th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2024
  • Entangled (Gunjal) officially selected for UK Asian Film Festival 2024

Tickets to the Grand Feature & Awards Reception include:

• Red carpet reception with hors d'oeuvres 
• The grand feature
• Grand Jury & Audience Choice Awards Ceremony

Grand Jury Awards will be distributed on SAT 5/4 and the Audience Choice Awards + Honorary Awards will be distributed on SUN 5/5.

STUDENT/CREATIVES/ACADEMICS

TICKETS: Entry is free for all students (with valid student ID), creatives, and academics (must identify affiliation with an organization or institution) on both days for film blocks and panels only.

One pass includes one ticket to each of the 4 Film Blocks. If you do not need tickets to all events please reserve individual tickets instead of the pass.

Does not include the Panles, Special Presentations or Grand Feature & Awards Reception.

FULL SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 – 11 AM until 10 PM

• 11 AM to 2 PM - FILM BLOCK 1 - Matchbox 3
  • Inevitable by Amna Rehman (US), Runtime: 5 min.
  • BOJH-The Unseen Burden by Mohammad Awais Hassan (Pakistan), Runtime: 10 min.
  • From Sweden with Love by Muhammad Umar Saeed (Pakistan), Runtime: 15 min.
  • Desi  Standard Time Travel by Kashif Pasta (Canada), Runtime: 20 min.
  • How She Moves by Anya Raza, Aisha Linnea Akhtar (Pakistan), Runtime: 20 min.
  • #LiveLikeHaris by Amina Chaudary, Beth Murphy (US), Runtime: 51 min.
• 2 PM to 2:30 PM - PANEL 1 - Rehearsal Room 1
  • Filming in Houston & Texas: The good, the bad and the ugly. Challenges and opportunities of filming in Texas.
  • Panelists include:
    • Moderator: Fatima Hye
    • Taylor Jackson (Houston Arts Alliance)
    • Shuja Uddin (Film Professor Austin Community College
    • Michelle Mowler (Producer)
    • Alfred Cervantes (Houston Film Commission)
• 2:45 PM to 5 PM - FILM BLOCK 2 - Matchbox 3
  • The Java Plum Tree by Rafay Rashdi (Canada), Runtime: 34 min.
  • Made with Love by Kainat Thebo (Pakistan), Runtime: 15 min.
  • How to Wash the Dead by Asad Kirmani (US), Runtime: 17 min
  • Bhashaili (Adrift) by Jawad Sharif (Pakistan), Runtime: 60 min.
• 5 PM to 6:30 PM - SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Ramadan America Anthology, Runtime: 82 min.
• 5 PM to 5:30 PM - PANEL 2 - Rehearsal Room 1
  • Behind the Camera Stories: Lessons to be learned for filmmaker/funny stories.
  • Panelists include:
    • Moderator: Khurram Azim 
    • Kamran Shaikh (Actor/RFF Advisor)
    • Rafay Rashdi (Director)
    • Halimah Iman (Actor/Writer)
    • Alan Noel Vega (Producer)
• 6:30 PM to 10 PM - IN FLAMES/Grand Jury Awards – Matchbox 3
  • Feature Movie: In Flames & Grand Jury Awards Reception
  • In Flames officially selected for Cannes 2023 & TIFF 2023
  • In Flames won Red Sea 2023 (Golden Yusr Prize).

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 – 11 AM until 10 PM

• 11 AM to 2 PM - FILM BLOCK 3 - Matchbox 3
  • Oli Kahuli by Muhammad Ali Ijaz (US), Runtime: 14 min.
  • Identity by Suraj Gunjal (India), Runtime: 24 min.
  • The After: A Chef's Wish by Umar Riaz (US), Runtime: 26 min.
  • We Will Be Brave by Chrisann Hessing (Canada), Runtime: 79 min.
    

• 2 PM to 2:30 PM - PANEL 3 - Rehearsal Room 1
  • Creating South Asian lead roles for global audiences: What is done and what are we missing?
  • Panelists include:
    • Moderator: Arshia Hasnain
    • Faran Tahir (Actor, RFF Advisor)
    • Mahesh Sriram (Actor)
    • Pamela Monroe (Producer)
    • Kashif Pasta (Director)
      
• 2:45 PM to 5 PM - FILM BLOCK 4 - Matchbox 3
  • Karachi at Night by Shahbano Farid (US), Runtime: 15 min.
  • Lamya's Poem by Alex Kronemer (US), Runtime: 89 min.
• 5 PM to 5:30 PM - PANEL 4 – Rehearsal Room 1
  • Females in Films: Role of females in filmmaking and the need to understand the business!
  • Panelists include:
    • Moderator: Zehra Nawab
    • Sadia Uqaili (Filmmaker, RFF Advisor)
    • Nighat Shah (Producer)
    • Michelle Mowler (Producer)
    • Randee Ramsey (Producer SWAMP)
• 6:30 PM to 10 PM - Entangled (Gunjal)/Audience Choice Awards - Matchbox 3
  • Feature Movie: Entangled (Gunjal) & Audience Choice Awards Reception
  • Entangled (Gunjal) officially selected for 14th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2024
  • Entangled (Gunjal) officially selected for UK Asian Film Festival 2024

MATCH GENERAL INFORMATION

*Online sales will end 30 minutes prior to the scheduled curtain time. At this time tickets may be purchased in-person at the box office.

The box office opens 2 hours prior to the performance time for WILL CALL and walkup sales.

All sales are final. No refunds or cancellations available after purchase.

Each ticket is subject to a $3 fee at check out.  CLICK HERE for details.

Parking: For information on area parking click HERE.

Area Restaurants & Bars: CLICK HERE for a list of area restaurants and bars.