Am I Like You 2023

 

Directed & Animated by Sima Naseem alongside Brampton Youth

 

A young girl awakens in a world of vast characters. She is asked the question, “who are you?” Embarking on a quest for self-discovery, she ventures to connect with various characters to uncover her sense of true belonging.

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I served as the inaugural Brampton Artist in Residence with the Brampton Library and Brampton Arts Organization in Fall 2023. In just three months, I collaborated with over 26 enthusiastic youth (ages 9-13), whose imaginations guided every creative decision. Through storytelling, puppet and animation workshops, we created a stop-motion film, this project illustrates themes of belonging and self-growth.

 

The screening event was held at the Brampton Library, Four Corners Branch, the positive reception was incredibly rewarding, especially as I had the opportunity to interview the participants, many of whom expressed a desire to pursue stop motion and filmmaking in the future. Beyond my craft, teaching holds a special place in my heart. I hold a genuine belief that art possesses the ability to transcend limitations when you share your experiences with those in your community.

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Film composer: Jett Dunkley.

Storytellers, Puppet Builders, Animators and Voice Talent:

Samreen Raina, Rabeekah Naeem , Neil Roshan, Kris Roshan, Livian Jass, Bismun Singh, Samer Walia, Abigail Francis, Elijah Gordon, Violet Gordon, Gavin Chi, Raymond Chi, Kavin Acharya, Bhairavi Menon, Bhadra Menon, Rishika Rajeev, Shruti Save, Ritika Sirwani, Spoorthi Mandapati, Nathan Brown, Lakshitha Shankar, Avni Harrad, Isabella Cortes, Hasini , Laksan Mohan, Zehra Hemani, Tiya Bhardwaj, Aaryan Bhardwaj, Laksan Mohan, Tamanjay Raj, and Zakariah Sattur.

Editing and Sound Design: Moeed Akhter