MY GEN Z DAUGHTER

During the lockdown, a filmmaker spent time with his daughter watching old home movies he had captured over the past twenty years. The film, shot in a mix of participatory and observational documentary modes, delves into themes of colonialism, racism, and global conflicts. It also follows the coming-of-age story of the filmmaker's Gen Z daughter in a found footage documentary style.

  • Saiful Wadud
    Director
  • Saiful Wadud
    Writer
  • Grantha Wadud
    Writer
  • Saiful Wadud
    Producer
  • Shafiul Wadud
    Producer
  • Grantha Wadud
    Key Cast
    "Grantha Wadud"
  • Saiful Wadud
    Key Cast
    "Saiful Wadud"
  • Munea Wadud
    Key Cast
    "Munea Wadud"
  • Kazi Mira
    Key Cast
    "Kazi Mira"
  • Jahanara Begum
    Key Cast
    "Jahanara Begum"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    52 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 12, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Bangladesh, Canada, United States
  • Language:
    Bengali, English
  • Shooting Format:
    DIGITAL, 16mm
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Saiful Wadud

Saiful Wadud Helal, a Canadian of South Asian descent originally from Dhaka, Bangladesh, began his career as a TV producer before transitioning to documentary filmmaking in 2005. His debut documentary, "Colour of Faith" (2005), premiered at the Montreal World Film Festival. In 2011, his film "Aparajeyo Bangla" won the Best Film award at the International Liberation and Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in Dhaka. His most recent work, "Jholmolia – The Sacred Water" (2016), received the Best Documentary Film award at the International Short and Independent Film Festival in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Currently, he is working on two new films, "Beyond All The Colours" and "My Gen Z Daughter," which are inspired by his activist daughters.

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Director Statement

What do we do with old home videos? Often, we watch them, store them in boxes, and then rarely revisit them. Memories may fade over time, but what about these home videos? Few make the effort to convert or digitize these vintage tapes. As years go by, they may be forgotten or misplaced. If they are lost, does anyone really care? Home movies are important pieces of our personal and social history and serve as valuable references to our past.

In June 2020, despite social distancing measures, a significant gathering in Ottawa protested against racism with the chant "Black lives matter." The discovery of mass graves of Indigenous children from residential schools in Canada further highlighted the country's dark history. Inspired by these events, I, a South Asian Canadian, decided to make a documentary. The film focuses on conversations between a father and daughter from different generations, aiming to understand the perspectives of cultural diversity and national identity.

The film follows the life of a daughter as seen through her father's video diary, which is inspired by the Bengali poet Sukanta Bhattacharya's poem "Charapatra." The poem envisions a brighter future for children. The film combines participatory and observational documentary styles to delve into the father-daughter bond and their joint involvement in activism and social causes.