AmeriGirl
From the Archives
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Drama, Short Films, 24-May-2023
Struggling to fit in at a sleepaway camp with a group of white girls, 11-year-old Aaliyah Khan tries to befriend a new arrival. Samina Saifee’s “AmeriGirl,” nuances the coming-of-age realities of assimilation and conformity to American beauty standards. After being unembraced by two fellow campers, Aaliyah is excited to hear that another brown girl, Maheen, has just arrived. Aaliyah looks for ways to connect but her efforts are rejected as Maheen gravitates to the popular white girls more focused on preening and appearance. Saifee’s direction offers a subtle, poignant look at indirect modes that might cause one to feel outcast. -Jinho Myung. Director: Samina Saifee. Cast: Anaya Joshi, Syna Bhuva. Director of Photography: Idil Eryürekli. Editor: Shubhangi Shekhar. Producer: Shubhangi Shekhar. Production Designer: Alyssa DiMartino. Costume Designer & Art Director: Isabella Evans.
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