The Haunted (2017) — Trajectory of Living with the Non-Human

In a cinematic ode to the vanished Turan tiger, a revered emblem of Central Asian lore. Saodat conjures a mythical realm, intertwining the tiger's legacy with the region's historical tapestry. Through a blend of visuals and commentary, the film blurs the boundaries between factual history and the ethereal realm of shared dreams and concepts.

• 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Conversation with Saodat unpacking the trajectory of living with the non-human

• 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM: Film screening of The Haunted (2017)

Following the Closing Keynote on 25 April, Saodat will embark on unpacking her most recent film archives, continuously over the next five days, in the Per°Form Open Academy Studio. There will be numerous screenings as Saodat articulates her trajectories of ecology, tradition, living with the non-human, colonialism, and the female universe.

Saodat interweaves myths, rituals and dreams with everyday life. She calls our attention, in a nuanced way, to social issues such as the drying up of rivers and women’s right to decide whether to wear the veil. Women’s identities and emancipation is a recurring theme in her work. Women play an important role in keeping Central Asian cultural and spiritual heritage alive – for example by passing on stories and customs from mother to daughter, generation after generation.

Each night of the Studio, Saodat engages in conversations of a particular topic and the night ends with film screening.