Mohammad Ahsan Baig
Mohammad Ahsan Baig (born April 6, 1995) is an award-winning Pakistani-Canadian producer, director, writer and actor living in Toronto, Canada[1]. Baig is known for making films that involve strong social messages[1]. He believes all visual mediums can be used to make a difference, whether it be in mindset or approach[2]. In 2020, Baig released a short film titled “Hate Kills” which garnered worldwide acclaim and won him several awards from many prestigious film festivals held around the world[3][1].
Early Life
Mohammad Ahsan Baig was born on April 6, 1995, in Lahore, Pakistan, into a Punjabi family of Mughal ancestry. He and his family moved to Toronto, Canada from Pakistan in the summer of ’01. Baig attended various educational institutes in the following years[4]. He finished high school from Thistletown Collegiate Institute and then graduated from York University with a degree in Information Technology[4]. He was appointed director of digital media for the MSA while attending York University[2].
In a recent interview with USTimesNow, Baig mentioned that his first few years in Canada were “full of ups and downs”[4]. He then further clarified “We moved to Canada in the summer of ’01. Right before the 9/11 attacks. As you can figure, this couldn’t possibly bode well for a Pakistani family living in an all-white neighborhood. We became the target of racially motivated verbal and physical attacks daily, be it at school, the park, or even in the comfort of our own home[1]. Kids would throw dirt on our front door, or even hurl rocks at us passing by, while their parents cheered on from a distance[1]. This was peak Islamophobia, peak ignorance.” Baig said it was these first-hand experiences that later would go on to play a significant role when it came to the art of storytelling[4].
Professional Career
In his interview with USTimesNow, Baig stated that he doesn’t have any formal training or education in the field of filmmaking, and that it was by working on set with seasoned actors and crew members that he understood the subtleties and intricacies of the business. He added “I was fortunate enough to work with some of the most talented and renowned actors/directors early on in my filmmaking career: Afroz Khan, Mohammed Junaid, Rupan Bal to name a few, which helped speed up the learning process.”[4]
Baig said that filmmaking has long been a passion of his, starting from childhood. He adds “I’ve found the concept of sharing one’s story with the world through a visual medium truly fascinating. There are endless possibilities out there, and filmmakers are only getting more creative by the day with the advancement of technology. Let’s put it this way: Films are powerful. They can make you feel a certain way, act a certain way, and can even completely change a person’s mindset. So why not use that resource to positively influence the viewer? Why not use it to rectify misconceptions?”[4]
Despite releasing two films prior to “Hate Kills”, it was the latter that garnered the most critical acclaim worldwide and gave Baig new found recognition among his peers. The film revolves around the story of a Muslim family that spreads goodness and generosity to others but gets paid back in the form of hate and a life-threatening attack in broad daylight.[1]
Nadeem Mirani summarizes that “‘Hate Kills’ is a short film that gives a comprehensive and multi-lateral overview of the overall conditions faced by Muslims under Islamophobic attacks. Moreover, this short film also highlights the real teachings of Islam.”[1]
Samiyya Abbasi, in her review of the film, concluded that “‘Hate Kills’ is a poignant short film that is not only technically well-made but is also a stark reminder of how a particular community continues to suffer due to misperceptions about their faith in the West”[1].
Baig shared that “Hate Kills” had an overwhelmingly positive reception, with many viewers personally contacting him to express their appreciation and support. Many of its non-Muslims viewers, whom were the primary target audience of the film, commented that the film was influential and eye-opening[4].
Awards
In 2020, Mohammad Baig wrote and directed a short film "Hate Kills" [3][1] in collaboration with renowned director and actor Rupan Bal, which won him a series of awards including Best Foreign Film and Best Islamic Film from the prestigious Istanbul Film Awards.
It also won him the Best Director award at Best Istanbul Film Festival and Sweden Film Awards.
The film was given an Honorable Mention at Asia South East Short Film Festival.
In 2021, his film Home was awarded Best Creative Short Film at Europe Film Festival U.K.
In 2021, his film Last Walk was nominated for the Best Short Film award at Lift-Off Film Festival, Toronto.
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Mirani, Nadeem (2022-08-23). "‘Hate Kills’ Helps Neutralize the Misperceptions against Muslims in the West" (in en-US). https://ventsmagazine.com/2022/08/23/hate-kills-helps-neutralize-the-misperceptions-against-muslims-in-the-west/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Mohammad Baig". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm9412822/bio.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Hate Kills – Award Winning Short Film on Hate Crimes" (in en-US). https://densipaper.com/hate-kills-award-winning-short-film-on-hate-crimes/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Buzz, Brand (2022-09-01). "Interview with award-winning producer and director Mohammad Baig" (in en-US). https://www.ustimesnow.com/interview-with-award-winning-producer-and-director-mohammad-baig/.
- ↑ "Mohammad Baig". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm9412822/awards.
