Private Project

BEYOND ALL THE COLOURS

Logline: A filmmaker of Bangladeshi/South Asian descent embarks on a film journey focused on his queer artist daughter. The movie celebrates art, acceptance, and the unique bond between a father and daughter.

Short Synopsis: A daughter comes out to her family about her sexual identity, prompting her filmmaker father, who comes from a traditionally conservative background in Bangladesh, to use his camera to explore and embrace understanding and acceptance. "Beyond all the Colours" follows the heartfelt journey of a father and daughter as they confront the obstacles of sexual identity and gender issues. Bound together by their love for art and life, they support each other and embrace the emotional road ahead.

Plot Outline: A set of South Asian parents who immigrated to Canada from Bangladesh, send their daughter to a French medium school and to an English medium university hoping that one day she will have a life of comfort, integrating easily into the society during her adulthood.

The daughter, Munea Wadud, a 25-year-old Bangladeshi-Canadian with a degree in communication, works at an organization supporting underprivileged children. She struggles to share her identity as a queer femme person with her immigrant parents. Munea, a self-taught visual artist, explores her identity through her artwork. When her filmmaker father offers to document her art exhibits and artistic journey, she agrees.

  • Saiful Wadud Helal
    Director
  • Munea Wadud, Saiful Wadud Helal
    Writer
  • Rosina Kazi, NIcholas Murray (Band LAL)
    Music
  • Saiful Wadud Helal, Munir Hossain, Shafiul Wadud
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    60 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Bangladesh, Canada
  • Language:
    Bengali, English, French
  • Shooting Format:
    16mm, Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Winner City of Ottawa Grant for Creation and Production 2019

    Winner Production Grant 2019
  • Winner City of Ottawa Grant for Post Production 2021

    Winner Post production Grant 2021
Director Biography - Saiful Wadud Helal

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.

Saiful Wadud is also a visiting instructor at the Bangladesh Cinema and Television Institute (BCTI).

Filmography: Color of Faith (2005), Anika’s Home (2009), Cinemania (2010), Aparajeyo Bangla (2011), Bangladesh's Ridoy (2013). Jholmolia - The Sacred Water (2016), Beyond All The Colours (work in progress).

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Director Statement

This is a documentary which explores the unique relationship between a filmmaker father and his artist daughter as they traverse the complicated subject of sexual identity and gender politics.. There is a history of homophobia within the South Asian diaspora community in Canada. However, there are a few stories of hope, of families coming together despite their differences and understanding each other. I feel that even though this is not a reality for every single family, it is important to talk about that kind of acceptance and love. And, by talking about this acceptance, it helps my daughter and me to hope for a more tolerant and inclusive future where people are more open with each other.