Make It Look Real

Director:
Danial Shah

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.

Director:
Danial Shah
Country:
Pakistan
Running time:
68 minute
Section:
TIFF Edition:
2025