Event Type : SAFF 2023 Friday

Red Carpet Night Host: Sumita Batra

Born in England to Sikh parents from Iran, Sumita Batra spent her youth migrating between India, England, and Iran. At 16, her family settled in the United States, working tirelessly to establish stability in their new home. When Batra’s mother opened Ziba Beauty in 1987, she became the company’s spokesperson, producing events and tradeshows that fueled growth.

Under Batra’s leadership, Ziba Beauty blossomed into chic studios in major California malls, sparking a global henna trend. As a renowned henna artist, she adorned A-List celebrities for magazine shoots and music videos. In 1998, Batra became Ziba’s CEO, partnering to distribute branded kits globally.

A prolific author and entrepreneur, Batra penned “The Art of Mehndi” in 1999 and launched Sumita Cosmetics, expanding to 22 countries before selling to her partners in 2017. Undeterred by COVID-19, Batra recently co-founded The Pro Safety Group, producing a 2021 Virtual Summit on beauty industry safety. She also works with a COVID Consortium providing testing kits worldwide, illustrating her tireless ingenuity.

Welcome Message by Dean Stephen Galloway

Stephen Galloway joined Chapman University in 2020 as the Twyla Reed Martin Dean of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Previously, he served as executive editor and producer at The Hollywood Reporter for almost 30 years.

Galloway created and produced acclaimed series including “The Hollywood Masters” and “Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter.” A graduate of Cambridge University and the American Film Institute’s Conservatory, he has worked extensively in film and television in the U.S. and France.

Over the past decade, Galloway championed diversity initiatives in entertainment. He launched The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program, pairing disadvantaged high school students with top women in film and TV. The award-winning program has served over 250 teenagers who have gone on to college, aided by over $10 million in scholarships raised under Galloway’s leadership.

As Dean, Galloway brings a wealth of industry experience and a commitment to opening doors for the next generation of diverse storytellers. His visionary leadership will guide Dodge College into an ever more inclusive future.

American Sikh

Eight years after the Project S film Red, White and Beard Chapman film graduate Ryan Westra collaborates with the subject of the film Vishavjit Singh in the making of an animated film American Sikh is the true and unlikely story of an American born, turban-wearing Sikh man, Vishavjit Singh, who after a lifetime of facing prejudice, self-doubt and violence, finally finds acceptance in a superhero costume.

Connecting the Dots

The documentary Connecting the Dots follows Rubab Chishti, a young architect passionately changing historic conservation in Pakistan. It showcases her dedication to restoring the 190-year-old Gurdwara Choa Sahab, an abandoned Gurudwara within the Rohtas Fort. Since 1947, this pioneering project marks the first proper Gurudwara conservation effort in Pakistan. We witness Chishti challenging longstanding traditions of superficial restoration. Through preserving cultural touchstones like Choa Sahab, she connects the dots between past and future, dedicating herself to saving Pakistan’s living heritage.

Sarabha-Cry for Freedom

Sarabha-Cry for Freedom illuminates the historic saga of Kartar Singh Sarabha, a legendary icon of the Gadri Babae movement. This film delves into captivating tales interwoven with century-old swords and the intrepid spirit of Gadri Babae. Sarabha chronicles Kartar’s valor and selfless sacrifice in the struggle for freedom, justice and dignity. His inspirational life emerged as a clarion call for an awakening, shaping countless destinies.