Beyond Extinction — with Ali Kazimi

Below the Radar

On this episode of Below the Radar, our host Am Johal is joined by Ali Kazimi, director and winner of the 2019 Governor General’s Award for Visual and Media Arts. Ali shares with Am how he got into filmmaking, his experiences of discrimination when arriving in Canada, and his path into the production of his various films, such as Continuous Journey, Narmada, Random Acts of Legacy, and his latest film, Beyond Extinction. In talking about his film, Shooting Indians, created in collaboration with Jeffrey Thomas, Ali describes the film’s dialogic approach, and how Jeffrey challenges the visual stereotypes of Indigenous people put forward by the American photographer, Edward Sherriff Curtis. Ali explains how he uses archives to unearth never before seen footage of the Komagata Maru, and how he embraces the imperfections of old archival materials. Finally, Am and Ali discuss the effort it takes to maintain autonomy as a filmmaker. Full episode details: https://www.sfu.ca/vancity-office-community-engagement/below-the-radar-podcast/episodes/222-ali-kazimi.html Read the transcript: https://www.sfu.ca/vancity-office-community-engagement/below-the-radar-podcast/transcripts/222-ali-kazimi.html Resources: Ali Kazimi: https://alikazimi.ca/ Continuous Journey: https://alikazimi.ca/films/continuous-journey/ Narmada: A Valley Rises: https://alikazimi.ca/films/narmada/ Random Acts of Legacy: https://alikazimi.ca/films/random-acts-of-legacy/ Shooting Indians: https://alikazimi.ca/films/shooting-indians/ Beyond Extinction: A Sinixt Resurgence: https://alikazimi.ca/films/beyond-extinction/ Bio: Ali Kazimi is a filmmaker, author and media artist whose work deals with race, social justice migration, history and memory. He is the recipient of the 2019 Governor General’s Award for Visual and Media Arts. Ali is currently an associate professor at York University's School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design and was the former chair for the Department of Cinema & Media Arts. Cite this episode: Chicago Style Johal, Am. “Beyond Extinction — with Ali Kazimi.” Below the Radar, SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement. Podcast audio, October 10, 2023. https://www.sfu.ca/vancity-office-community-engagement/below-the-radar-podcast/episodes/222-ali-kazimi.html.