Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists.
 

Logline

Sheila and Imran haven’t seen each other since college, but when Imran moves back to Austin, an opportunity arises for the pair to get acquainted once more.

Synopsis

Sheila gets a phone call from her mom letting her know that a family friend, Imran, is moving back to town. Her mom is adamant that Sheila should do her duty as a good daughter to extend a hand and makes sure he feels welcome. Eventually, Shelia relents to her mom’s request. When she hangs up the phone, she goes to Imran’s Facebook page and reminisces about her college days.

The pair meet at a wine bar in the early evening, and their hangout lasts for several hours. They talk about how the city has changed, what they are both up to, their dating lives, and finally their one night stand in college. Imran said that Sheila ghosted him, and Sheila insists they just fell into different social circles. After this discussion, Imran asks, “and now?”

They have a very affectionate and passionate moment, but Sheila abruptly pulls away. Imran asks if he did anything wrong, and Sheila tells him a secret. The film ends on an ambiguous note.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Neha Aziz – Writer/Director
Neha Aziz (she/her) is a Pakistani-born writer, filmmaker, festival programmer, and podcaster living in Austin, TX. She produced Come & Take It, a documentary short about the #CocksNotGlocks and Gun Free UT movements with acclaimed filmmakers PJ Raval and Ellen Spiro, which has gone on to win numerous accolades. From 2017 – 2020, Neha worked at SXSW as a member of the Communications team. She currently works as a Film Programmer and Community Programs Director for the Austin Asian American Film Festival, Features Programmer for the Cleveland International Film Festival, and a Programming and Media consultant for rePRO. In 2021, she was named an iHeartRadio NextUP fellow for their inaugural podcast program; her show, PARTITION (limited series) debuted in August 2022 and has been featured on Apple Podcasts, NPR, The Austin Chronicle, The 19th News, The Austin American – Statesman, The RepresentASIAN Project, Asian Founded, and more. In 2023, Neha was one of five recipients of the WAVE Grant from Wavelength Productions, a grant and one year mentorship given to first time female/non-binary directors of color. Her short, So, That Happened marks her directorial debut.

Mase Kerwick – Producer
Mase Kerwick (he/him) is a playwright and host of the popular variety show (and now podcast) Queertowne. When not creating award-winning work with classic Texas brands like Dell and Whataburger, Mase most enjoys championing the voices of everyday Texans with fascinating and insightful perspectives on the Lone Star State. A staple of the Austin comedy scene, he’s been included in lineups across the country – and is thrilled to see some of his own tendencies as a hopeless romantic brought to the screen in So, That Happened.

Alifya Ali – Producer
Alifya Ali (she/they) is a producer and second generation Pakistan-American from Texas. Their producing work includes the 2023 narrative short film When You Left Me on That Boulevard, which premiered at Sundance and won the Grand Jury Prize for shorts as well as the Texas shorts Special Jury Prize for Vision at the 2023 SXSW Film & T-V festival. They also work as a brand commercial producer and have lead creative on various commercials for Sonic, Racetrac, Frito Lay brands, and Indeed where she is currently a video producer on their in-house creative team. They are currently in development on the narrative features ’06/’07 and On Earth As We Are in Heaven with director Kayla Abuda Galang and finishing the upcoming short The Pit.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.