Films don't have missions. Missions have films. Organic Drift is dedicated to listening from the heart and is not just a means of self-expression. Through leveraging the power of visual storytelling, it seeks to surface diverse perspectives, stimulate reflective dialogue and inspire shared understanding. The voices represented follow a dynamic consent approach and carry the capacity to expand, beyond the place where they began, into larger conversations. Here are some words that glow and echo!
Organic Drift takes you on a journey of visual delights, enchanting music and visions of human activities that will uplift your spirit and touch your heart. The work shows people of varied ages and cultures, revealing common experiences and emotions that encourage dialogue and self-reflections as we connect. Sadaf draws upon her present life in Toronto and life in Pakistan where she was born. From music to musicians, dancers and vocalists to the delightful record of what she discovers through the eyes of her beloved 12-year old son and the amazing photos reminding us of the goodness of people as they step forward to assist others, we witness the expressions on people’s faces that reveal their gratitude and the human spirit at work. The work is truly a celebration of the diversity and power of images to connect us to each other.
Frances Frommer (Author, Artist, Cat-lover)
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In the backdrop of crises in global education, your continued interest in seeing how the Teach the World Foundation’s work has progressed in enhancing learning spoke to me of your concern on literacy in Pakistan. I am extremely thankful for your video documentation of our pilot project in Karachi and very impressed by the quality of your work. It was a brilliant idea to include the entire on-the- ground team for their views on digital learning and you have quite tactfully weaved their impressions and our conversations through visual storytelling. The unfiltered voices of the children in the video, as we find them fully absorbed in learning through the tablets, are key in our research to understand the effectiveness of our model before we progress to scale-up. I recall that all you had to make this short film was your camera and your great resolve. Your intention was noble, and the sincerity has gone into making ‘What’s in a Game?’ a truly authentic and effective showcase of work that carries the power to inspire change.
Shirin Husain (Director Operations - South Asia, Teach the World Foundation)
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How does one achieve BOLD and subtle simultaneously, CONTEMPORARY and traditional at the same time? Ask Sadaf, but for now the proof is in her 'artsy webbing'. Congratulations! 'Sands of Time' still remains my favourite which I will watch over and over for multiple interpretations.
ZZ (Bridging the Gap: Enlightenment through Entertainment)
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While I have looked previously at some of your works on Organic Drift, today it has been a pleasure to sit longer and in peace and read the many drop downs which has provided a special view into your philosophical and humanitarian view on life. I am impressed Sadaf by your altruistic outlook and the many charitable organizations you have highlighted and been involved in. Knowing that music is a central element in your home life I enjoyed the beautiful quote on music by Sufi Inayat Khan. Clearly you are passionate about image making and have put extensive time and work into the films. All the work embodies your benevolence which is so lovely.
Terry Jenkins-Bricel (Creative Professional)
I have watched the short films yet again, and once again, was drawn in by their power, particularly the one which speaks of ‘Border Crossings’. There is so much in that video; so many different ways to slice up border crossings. The first one for me would be 1947 (Indian partition) and the horror of the stories whispered at home. Those stories were, always, narrated in whispers. They contained too much sorrow and shame to be spoken aloud and discussed openly. It was always the women who whispered, while the men spoke only in silences. This itself raises so many questions in my mind. Why would the men not talk? Another border crossing right there: crossing the wavering line that divides masculine from feminine. The gender divide, which at times we assume to be so obvious and yet it is not. I am physically a woman and yet, I have so many qualities that society deems masculine. People like to claim that people don't change. I think nothing could be further from the truth. We are all constantly changing, evolving, growing or decaying. We are all constantly journeying. We are all constantly crossing borders. And while I loved 'Border Crossings', I also loved the film about your son. I like that the things you wish for him are the very same things I wish for my children, not material success, fame, fortune, or power, but a life lived with an open heart, warmth, and compassion. I hope our kids find all this within themselves.
Tehmina Khan (Writer)
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Through Organic Drift I am being introduced to a side of you I did not know about. It's very intriguing for me and I like what I am seeing and learning. One of your films I really connected with is of the young dancing mother playing with her young child. It was absolutely rewarding. In my culture there is a word ‘nachas’ which means indescribable joy and pleasure that touches one’s heart. A mother feels ‘super pride and joy’ for their child, each time the child learns it becomes a delight shared by both. You caught that so well on film. The dancer was beyond exception and what was remarkable was the energy that flowed from the dance. Props were simple and I felt such warmth. I will continue looking out for more of your work - so insightful and your filming is remarkable.
Esther I. Turner (Financial Security Adviser & Investment Representative)
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‘What’s in a Game?’ undeniably documents the fact that every child has the ability to learn when given the opportunity. In the US, we also work often times with marginalized communities and children who speak English as a second language. What is personally thrilling for me to see through your documentation is that the students enrolled in the Teach The World Foundation Programme in Pakistan are doing exactly what they need to do to learn a language -- singing the nursery rhymes and writing the words. It is really impressive that these children are self-taught. What this tells me is that there is no excuse that any child should be unable to read and write.
Ilene Rosenthal (CEO, Footsteps2Brilliance, Inc.)
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I really liked your work on this website. You are 10 feet under the ground and full of talent. Very impressive and I look forward to more of this!
Ian Khan (Technology Futurist, Motivational Speaker, Sufi Artist)
I should note that it was a pleasure to watch your work. I especially resonated with two of your films — 'Ode to Oneness' and 'Bāuls of Bengal' — which invite the viewer to bask in profound cultural experiences. Full of spirit, Organic Drift proposes an enriched perspective to our preconceived notion of the recorded event. These select films not only showcase the artists performing live on stage, but also provide an intimate experience for us to imagine ourselves sitting amongst the audience. Through multiple camera angles, Organic Drift gives us moments to pause with contemplation as we gauge from the audience’s facial reactions, as well as participatory moments when audience members directly engage through claps, sing-alongs, and so forth. Put simply, I feel as though I attended the event — literally! These recordings will now support an ongoing cross-cultural dialogue of art and music and the strong visual memories of the events will help inculcate a stronger appreciation for cultural traditions that have connected with our spirits — regardless of our cultural backgrounds — across centuries.
William Brereton (Cultural Worker, Writer, Art-lover)
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I'm moved by the raw emotions captured through your photographs. To me, the essence of good art is expression, and your photos imbue that essence. My favourite photo set is ‘Educating for Change’. The unbridled joy on the children's faces - interspersed with looks of sadness, of confusion - are evidence that the eyes are a window to the soul. Two of your films, ‘Border Crossings’ and ‘Dancing Across the Border’ made me think about borders we cross every day in our lives, sometimes with our bodies, sometimes with our minds, sometimes consciously, sometimes not. One idea that particularly resonated with me was the ‘edge effect’, as mentioned by dance innovator Nova Bhattacharya. During the course of the CivicAction's DiverseCity Fellowship that I am currently pursuing, I will continue to deliberate on how the edge effect applies to so many different contexts, from personal identity (intersectionality) to geography (multicultural metropoles) and how the greatest diversity can be found at the overlap of borders.
Maxwell Tran (Founder & Executive Director, Ink Movement Canada, Canada's Top 20 Under 20)
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I always knew you were an artist at heart! Organic Drift is beautifully done. Your photography and quiet message are superb!
Jane Rodman (Art Enthusiast)
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There's so much life and vitality and joy in your work. Even the still photos are alive with movement, and the videos have so much heart and humanity in them. I especially love that video about the musicians and dancers; I felt there was so much love and history in the performance and I wanted to know more. I'd love to see what you could do with a full-length documentary feature, and I'd be first in line at Bloor Hot Docs to see it on the big screen.
Jaclyn Qua-Hianson (Diversity & Inclusion Professional, Arts & Culture)