it happens to us

by Anubhav Singh
short film / Drama

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In an attempt to rescue their schizophrenic father, the Baig sisters' misfortune turns for the worst when they have to rely on an emergency helpline.

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Synopsis

Amidst the pandemic, the Baig sisters, Nur and Zainab, navigate a challenging family situation. Their father, Umar, plagued by schizophrenia after the demise of their mother Abida, lives in a hallucinatory world where Abida is still alive. On the anniversary of Abida’s demise, Umar’s condition spirals into panic attack and what follows next is a turn of unfortunate events.

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Download PRESS KIT (pdf)

it happens to us

by Anubhav Singh
short film / Drama



In an attempt to rescue their schizophrenic father, the Baig sisters' misfortune turns for the worst when they have to rely on an emergency helpline.



Synopsis



PRESS KIT (pdf)

IT HAPPENS TO US

Canada, 2024 / 15′

a film by
Anubhav Singh

with
Urooj Khan
Sara Jaffri
Afroz Khan
Anjum Siddiqi
Nightingale
Iain Robert Stewart
Harris Bailey
Raphael Lorocque
Ram Ryes
Andii Muka
Valeriy Panov
Hassan Sheikh

Screenplay	Anubhav Singh
Director of Photography	Westin Nguyen
Production Design	Lori Si
Make-up	Rhythm Malhotra
Editor	Pranay Nichani
Composer	Kalaisan Kalaichelvan
Sound	Evan Gareth Hoffman
Sound Designer	Kerthekan Balasubramaniam
Color	Clinton Homuth
Producer	Anubhav Singh Nightingale
Distribution	Alpha Film

Credits of the short film "It happens to us"

Official selections of the short film "It happens to us" by Anubhav Singh

AWARDS

IFFSA – Toronto International Film Festival of South Asia Canada, 2024
BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM

Official Selections

IFFSA Toronto Canada, 2024
The Mosquers Film Festival Canada, 2024

The director

Anubhav Singh

Biofilmography

Originating from New Delhi, India, Anubhav is a film director who is currently based in Mississauga, Canada. With a foundation in fine art as well as film directing, Anubhav thrives on understanding of both artistic and technical aspects of filmmaking. He aims to tell stories that are diverse in nature but possess a common, relatable emotional ground with emphasis on empathy.

– IT HAPPENS TO US
Short Film
funded by Canada Council Of The Arts, Ontario Arts Council

– MA’S BUTTON BOX
Short Film

– GET UP AISHA
CBC Gems Digital series
(To be released)

IMDB

Director statement

I still remember it was March of 2020, the panic of COVID 19 had not settled and we were all cooped up during the first lockdown. That is when I came across the headline that put me in a spiral. A 60 year old schizophrenic man was killed by Peel police during a wellness check. This unsettling news grew more disturbing as I read the details. The man was a father, an uncle and a loving human being going through deep emotional and psychological trauma. He needed help but was failed by the system.

This led me to research about the wellness checks in Canada and the trend of recurring violence associated with them. Turns out there is a repetitive trend of violence, police brutality and racism following these distress calls, inflicted by the poorly trained police. The victims in the majority of the cases belong to BIPOC communities. Chantel Moore, Ejaz Chodury, Regis Korchinski, D’Andre Campbell and so many others who have been killed during police wellness checks were all going through mental health crises. It is so tragic that they have been reduced to mere headlines and statistics by the media. There is no widespread acknowledgement of this failure. No justice has been served till date.

As someone who has a family history with schizophrenia and anxiety, having lived with a loved one suffering from mental illness has helped me empathize with the family members of such individuals who have been victims of these systemic failures. Their struggle inspires me and I wish to tell a story from their perspective.