M Film Lab Board Adds Acclaimed Director Qasim Basir
Irvine CA, May 2023 – The M FIlm Lab is delighted to announce that acclaimed director Qasim Basir has joined its board of directors. The award-winning director is known for his films Mooz-lim, A Boy. A Girl. A Dream., and most recently the acclaimed To Live and Die and Live, which was nominated for the NEXT Innovator award at the Sundance Film Festival.
M Film Lab President, Mohannad Malas, said “Qasim is an incredibly talented writer/director and will add invaluable depth and creative vision to the M Film Lab board. Having served previously as a mentor in our screenwriting lab, he has demonstrated his commitment to supporting and cultivating the next generation of minority storytellers and screenwriters. We are proud to have Qasim on the M Film Board”
The M Film Lab is a free-to-join screenwriting workshop and mentorship opportunity held several times a year in partnership with screenwriting platform and community Open Screenplay, focusing each time on a different underrepresented minority in film and television. The lab provides an opportunity for aspiring screenwriters to work with a team of acclaimed mentors and industry professionals to hone their skills and prepare for a career in film and television writing.
The M Film Lab is a non-profit organization dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices in film and television through a series of free-to-join screenwriting workshops and mentorship opportunities.
To learn more about future M Film Lab programs, visit www.mfilmlab.com
Email: info@Mfilmlab.com
A force in the cinematic landscape, Qasim triumphantly returned to the Sundance Film Festival '23 with his enthralling feature film, 'To Live and Die and Live', garnering exceptional reviews and leaving audiences in awe at Park City. He's also the mastermind director and co-writer of the Sundance sensation, 'A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.', starring Omari Hardwick and Meagan Good. This feature earned widespread acclaim for its breathtaking style, visual splendor, and profound depth of its performances — all remarkably captured in a single take!
Qasim's inspiring journey began in the heart of Detroit's independent filmmaking scene, where he honed his craft by shooting films and hosting screenings in rented theaters. His unwavering dedication paved the way for his move to New York, where Qasim caught the eye of Danny Glover's Louverture Films with his award-winning short, which eventually became his first feature film, 'MOOZ-lum'. The film boasted a stellar cast, including Glover himself, Nia Long, Evan Ross, and Roger Guenveur Smith, and garnered international acclaim, festival awards, and an NAACP Image Award nomination.
Qasim's second film, 'Destined', starring Cory Hardrict, Jesse Metcalf, and Hill Harper, premiered at the LA Film Festival and earned him Best Director and Actor at the American Black Film Festival. The film also won Best Feature at Urbanworld, among several other prestigious awards.
A visionary with a distinctive voice, Qasim ceaselessly seeks to tell captivating, powerful stories. His talent has led to collaborations with industry giants such as HBO, Endeavor Content, and others, with numerous exciting projects in the pipeline.