Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Saffron Kingdom is a poignant exploration of identity, exile, and resilience set against the backdrop of Kashmir’s decades-long turmoil. The story spans from the 1990s insurgency in Srinagar to the political upheaval of 2019, following Masrat, a woman forced to flee her homeland after her husband’s abduction. Seeking refuge in Atlanta with her young son, Rizwan, she faces the challenge of rebuilding her life while dealing with the trauma of loss and displacement.
As Masrat immerses herself in academic research to document their past, Rizwan struggles with the absence of a father he barely knew. His grief deepens when Kashmir’s autonomy is revoked, severing their last ties to home. Through their journey, Saffron Kingdom examines the intergenerational impact of conflict, the weight of memory, and the fight to preserve identity in exile.
Blending intimate personal storytelling with wider historical themes, Arfat Sheikh's film offers a thoughtful and compelling meditation on belonging, justice and the lasting scars of an unresolved past.
17:15 - 18:00 Arrival, registration, and networking.
18:00 - 18:05 Welcome and introduction.
18:05 - 18:10 Video introduction from Arfat Sheikh, Director and Producer of Saffron Kingdom.
18:10 - 19:30 Film screening
20:00 Event close.
His debut feature film, Saffron Kingdom, has earned widespread international acclaim, winning Best Feature Drama at the Muslim Film Festival, along with Best Feature Film at the Chicago Filmmakers Award, LA Film and Documentary Awards, Melbourne Independent Film Festival, Wake Forest Film Festival, and the Anatolian International Film Awards. The film also won Best Writer for a Feature Film at the Florida South Asian Film Festival and received nominations at the London Director Awards and ARRF Barcelona International Film Festival. Arfat was also awarded Emerging Filmmaker at the Teaneck International Film Festival, recognizing his rising voice in global independent cinema.
Beyond festivals, Saffron Kingdom has reached major universities, community spaces, and theatrical venues around the world, sparking critical dialogue across academic and public platforms. Arfat has spoken and presented his work at institutions including SOAS University of London, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Johns Hopkins University, Georgia State University, Australian National University, and NARMS Australia, among others.
As a filmmaker at Daffodil Studios, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Arfat is committed to creating socially impactful films and offering multimedia services that amplify advocacy and nonprofit storytelling. He recently completed Whispers of the Valley, a short documentary chronicling the lives of half-widows in Dardpora, a Kashmiri village with the highest number of half-widows. He is currently in the process of writing another feature film.
Arfat’s work and perspectives have been featured in many international media outlets including the BBC, TRT World, The Independent, Dawn and the Project Censored.. Having lived in Srinagar, Delhi, Leeds, Atlanta, and now Washington, D.C., he continues to craft narratives that transcend borders and challenge dominant perspectives through cinema.
