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Shorts: Identity + Q&A
Institute of Contemporary Arts
Lifebuoy, dir: Rajitha Hettiarachchi & Kavindu Sivaraj, prod. Kehelmala, Sri Lanka 2023


This collection of short films explores the struggles of finding one’s own voice and place in the world. Each character grapples with societal expectations and their own sense of identity, searching for a way to express their true selves.

Catfish, dir: Abdullah Shahid, Pakistan 2024, English and Urdu with English subtitles, 35 min.

A lonely office worker catfishes a masculine co-worker in a desperate attempt at companionship.

Lifebuoy, dir: Rajitha Hettiarachchi & Kavindu Sivaraj, prod. Kehelmala, Sri Lanka 2023, Sinhala with English subtitles, 20 min.

Two men, a police lifeguard and a hotel server, fight for a forbidden relationship in a crisis-ravaged tropical paradise. 

Out Beyond, dir: Salman Alam Khan, Pakistan 2023, Urdu with English subtitles, 6 min.

A teenager boy who has a passion for drumming, but lives in a family that does not support his ambitions. He feels suppressed and afraid to express his true self because of the pressures of his family, leading him to mockingly play the drums in secret in the bathroom, which is his only safe space within the house.

Rest in Paper, dir. Haseeb ur Rehman, prod. Puffball studios & Project Dastaan, India/Pakistan 2022, Urdu, Hindi and English with English subtitles, 7 min.

Based on the true story of Ghulam Ali, Rest in Paper is the absurd story of bureaucracy, statelessness and the refugees whose lives it destroyed.

A State in Silence, dir. Ruvin de Silva, Sri Lanka 2024, Sinhala and Tamil with English subtitles, 33 min. 

State in Silence is a documentary that delves into the pervasive culture of impunity in Sri Lanka, examining its historical roots, social implications, and legal frameworks that have contributed to the systemic lack on the island. Through the perspectives of victims’ families, activists and legal experts, the film highlights the enduring cycles of injustice shaping Sri Lanka’s past, present and future, underscoring the critical importance of accountability, justice, and human rights in post-conflict societies.
 
06:40 pm
Sat, 06 Jul 2024
Cinema 1
Ticket information
  • All tickets that do not require ID (full price, disabled, income support) can be printed at home or stored in email
  • For aged-based concession tickets (under 25, student and pensioner) please bring relevant ID to collect at the front desk before the event.
Access information
Cinema 1
  • Both our Cinemas have step free access from The Mall and are accessible by ramp
  • We have 1 wheelchair allocated space with a seat for a companion
  • All seats are hard back, have a crushed velvet feel and they do not recline
  • These are our seat size dimensions: W 42 x D 45 x H 52
  • Arm rest either side of the seat dimensions: L 27 x W 7 x H 20
Please email access@ica.art
for the following requirements:
  • We have unassigned seating. If you require a specific seat, please reserve this in advance
  • Free for visitors where ticket prices are a barrier, please email

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