Experience the Magic of Demsala Nan

Anvar Hassanpour is an independent Kurdish filmmaker. With over two decades of experience, he has created and produced a diverse array of films, including documentaries, experimental works, film essays, and narrative films. Anvar earned a BA in Cinema Art, and an MFA in Documentary Media from Northwestern University; currently, he is pursuing his PhD in the Communication department at UCSD. His scholarly work focuses on the concept of totality in film production, exploring its significant impact on both the form and content of cinematic works. As an immigrant filmmaker, he delves into the complex interactions within the political economy of film production. His debut feature narrative film, "Demsala Nan" (The Bread Season), is currently under consideration for its premiere on the international film festival circuit.

Emeer Hassanpour is an independent filmmaker and a graduate student at the University of Southern California, specializing in Cinema Studies. Engaged in both practical and theoretical projects, he brings a diverse skill set to his academic pursuits. Emeer served as the former president of the Chicago Experimental Film Society and is the founder and chief editor of Cine Bizarre Journal. Before his first feature film, he directed and produced several short documentaries and experimental films, showcased in multiple festivals and public screenings.

Nicoletta Vangelisti is an independent producer currently based in San Diego, CA. She produces films, audio content, digital print media and other forms of creative expression. Recent films include: Pandemic Bread (dir. Zeinabu irene Davis); Sydney & Kim (dir. Hazel Katz); Demsala Nan (dirs. Emeer and Anvar Hassanpour); and Stars of the Northern Sky (dir. Zeinabu irene Davis). Nicoletta began her production career in New York City and in partnership with Palestinian artists living and working in the West Bank where she contributed to the growth of a robust story production industry. She is the founder of Casa di Vangelisti, a production support house providing critical services to alternative independent media makers. Nicoletta is also completing her PhD in Communication and Critical Gender Studies at the University of California, San Diego. Her research focuses on the relationship between cultural philanthropy and cultural production at the social margins. Nicoletta specializes in creative development and works with an artist-centered approach to production. [more at www.nicolettavangelisti.com]