Amman Abbasi is a Pakistani American filmmaker, writer, director, composer, and musician noted in the media for his coming-of-age films and documentary work.[1][2]

Film critics have highlighted his work for its blend of intimate character studies and social realism.[3][2][4][5][6][7][8][9]

In 2016, Filmmaker Magazine listed Abbasi among 25 New Faces of Independent Film.[10]

Early Life and Career

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Amman Abbasi was born in 1988 to parents Zahid Abbasi (father) and Shabnam Abbasi (mother) who had emigrated from Karachi, Pakistan, and settled in Little Rock, Arkansas.[1][2]

His upbringing in the American South and his Pakistani heritage have influenced his artistic perspective.[3][11]

Amman Abbasi's early creative works focused on music composition, including projects with his bother Yousef.[12]

While Abbasi was completing high school, he met documentarian brothers Craig and Brent Renaud and began a series of collaborations.[1][2]

He attended Hendrix College briefly before dropping out to pursue music and film in New York. He returned to Little Rock to help open a Pakistani restaurant in Little Rock with his family.[13]

Film Career

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Abbasi made his feature directorial debut with Dayveon (2017), a coming-of-age drama set in rural Arkansas.[1][2][4]

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was featured at the Berlin International Film Festival. Abbasi received two Independent Spirit Award nominations for his work on Dayveon: the John Cassavetes Award[14] and the Someone To Watch Award.[15][2][16]

In 2024, Abbasi's second feature film, Yasmeen's Element, premiered at the SXSW Festival.[17]

Documentary Work

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In 2011, while working with the Renaud Brothers, Abbasi traveled to Haiti to cover the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake for The New York Times in an 11-minute film “Surviving Haiti’s Earthquake: Children.” The documentary earned a 2012 duPont-Columbia University Award for Excellence in Journalism.[1][2][16]

Abbasi contributed as an editor on the documentary series Last Chance High, again with the Renaud Brothers. The series focused on Chicago's Moses Montefiore Academy, where a dedicated staff aimed to change the lives of at-risk students.[18] Last Chance High earned an Emmy nomination for editing and won a Peabody Award in 2014.[19]

Music Career

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Abbasi is also a musician and composer. In addition to his solo work, he forms half of the duo The Abbasi Brothers with his brother, Yousuf. They released the album Something Like Nostalgia in 2008.[1][2][12]

The Abbasi Brothers recorded a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence” for the charity compilation, “Sing Me to Sleep: Indie Lullabies.”[13]

Amman released an EP on Dynamophone Recordings in 2010 with Josh Varnedore called “Places.”[13]

He released another EP later in 2010 under his own name, i mi$$ 3v3rything, on Cximple Recordings.[13]

Abbasi has scored his own feature films and worked as a music consultant for the Halloween film franchise (Halloween, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends).[2][20] As well as scoring short films and commercials for the filmmaking duo the DANIELS.

Abbasi also worked as a composer for the 2023 horror film The Exorcist: Believer, a collaboration with David Wingo.[21]

Awards and Recognition

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  • "Dayveon" (2017) – Nominated for Independent Spirit Awards[2][16]
  • "Last Chance High" (2014) – Emmy nomination for editing[1][2][16]
  • Coverage of the Haiti earthquake – DuPont Award for Excellence in Journalism[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Arkansas Cinema Society". www.arkansascinemasociety.org.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Amman Abbasi – American Film Showcase". americanfilmshowcase.com.
  3. ^ a b Saito, Stephen (June 30, 2015). "Amman Abbasi Finds a Way to Speak Out with "Loudmouth"". The Moveable Fest.
  4. ^ a b Felperin, Leslie (2017-01-20). "'Dayveon': Film Review | Sundance 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  5. ^ Hipes, Patrick (2017-01-17). "'Dayveon' Clip: First Look At Sundance NEXT Opener From First-Time Director Amman Abbasi". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  6. ^ Rizov, Vadim (2016-07-25). "Amman Abbasi - Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  7. ^ "Take a Break from Super Wide — Portrait Film 'Dayveon' Shows 4:3 is Still Relevant | No Film School". nofilmschool.com. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  8. ^ "Dayveon movie review & film summary (2017) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  9. ^ Goldman, Russell (2016-07-26). "Amman Abbasi Debut Film 'Dayveon,' Fostered By Independent Film Vets, Completes Production – Exclusive". IndieWire. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  10. ^ Rizov, Vadim (2016-07-25). "Amman Abbasi - Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  11. ^ "Amman Abbasi: "Dayveon" | The Treatment". KCRW. 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  12. ^ a b Thill, Scott. "Soundtracking Everyday Life: An Interview with The Abbasi Brothers". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  13. ^ a b c d Szenher, James (2010-06-17). "Amman apart". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  14. ^ "Film Independent: The nominees and winners for John Cassavetes Award - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  15. ^ "2018 Independent Spirit Awards nominations have been announced — see the full list". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  16. ^ a b c d "POV and America ReFramed Filmmakers Selected for 2021 Wyncote Fellowship at PBS Annual Meeting | POV". www.pbs.org.
  17. ^ Smittle, Stephanie (2024-02-24). "Arkansas filmmaker Amman Abbasi's latest debuts at SXSW". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  18. ^ "Last Chance High - VICE TV". Viceland. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  19. ^ "Last Chance High". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  20. ^ Smittle, Stephanie (February 24, 2024). "Arkansas filmmaker Amman Abbasi's latest debuts at SXSW". Arkansas Times.
  21. ^ Newby, Richard (2023-10-05). "Demonic Instruments: The Art of the Score with THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER Composers". Retrieved 2024-10-09.