Colonialism and LGBTQIA+ Mental Health

A knowledge of the history of colonization is crucial to understanding the experiences of both LGBTQIA+ people in Southeast Asia and LGBTQIA+ people of color in the United States. In this workshop, filmmakers Ali Rizvi (“Safe Space”) and Calvin Walker (“The Beautiful Black Man”) will share their films, discuss and explore the violence inflicted on South Asian cultures and Black people in the US, and examine how colonialism continues to shape contemporary gender and sexual identities. This session will include interactive audience components as well as time for Q&A with the filmmakers.

Filmmaker: Ali Rizv

Ali Rizvi (he/him) is a filmmaker and designer from Karachi, Pakistan. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Communication and Design from Habib University, and also holds the ACCA qualification. His work is rooted in the politics and discourses on social and developmental issues in Pakistan, focusing particularly on public health and social justice. Ali experiments with different forms and mediums to tell compelling stories, but film remains his primary focus. His short films are used as tools for advocacy by organizations within and outside of Pakistan. He founded Ehsas Films Project in 2015, which has produced short films and organized public screenings and campaigns as part of the initiative. In 2017, Ali was awarded the Women Deliver Fellowship for his work on gender equality.

Filmmaker: Calvin Walker

Calvin J Walker (he/him) is an award-winning filmmaker with the heart and pen of a poet. More importantly, he’s an artivist. In 2012, Calvin wrote and produced his first short film, The Most Beautiful Flower Blooms in Winter. Since that time, Calvin has produced work within several mediums: film, television, stage, and digital. His work has received acclaim domestically and internationally. He’s a sought after writer; working with producers in Denmark, Africa, and Atlanta. Calvin strives to tell stories that focus on social justice, spirituality, and mental health. He’s a self-taught filmmaker hailing from Dallas, TX. He is a husband and father to three.

For more information about Voices With Impact 2020, please visit Art With Impact.