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A Film By Raj Amit Kumar

unfreedom

Banned In India
Help Us Take It to the World!

In a world where distribution is controlled by Studios and Money, We are bypassing gatekeepers and directly relying on YOU THE AUDIENCE AS PRODUCER AND DISTRIBUTOR and cutting the middlemen. This is a campaign to build a new way to distribute stories that matter.

BE THE AUDIENCE THAT HELP DISTRIBUTE UNFREEDOM

In a world where distribution is controlled by Studios and Money, We are bypassing gatekeepers and directly relying on YOU THE AUDIENCE AS PRODUCER AND DISTRIBUTOR and cutting the middlemen. This is a campaign to build a new way to distribute stories that matter.

BE THE AUDIENCE THAT HELP DISTRIBUTE UNFREEDOM

HOST A SCREENING

Synopsis

UNFREEDOM is an urgent contemporary thriller about a society torn apart by political, religious, and sexual turmoil. Shifting between New York and New Delhi, the film juxtaposes two powerful and unflinching stories about religious fundamentalism and intolerance, one of which follows a Muslim terrorist attempting to silence a liberal Muslim scholar, while the other is about a young woman who defies her devout father and escapes an arranged marriage because she is secretly embroiled in a taboo lesbian romance. In this searing portrait of the polarized world we live in, all four characters go to their absolute limit—and beyond—in their struggle to defend their deeply-held and conflicting viewpoints on freedom, faith, family and love.

ABOUT Unfreedom

What is Unfreedom?

UNFREEDOM is an urgent contemporary thriller about a society torn apart by political, religious, and sexual turmoil. Shifting between New York and New Delhi, the film juxtaposes two powerful and unflinching stories about religious fundamentalism and intolerance, one of which follows a Muslim terrorist attempting to silence a liberal Muslim scholar, while the other is about a young woman who defies her devout father and escapes an arranged marriage because she is secretly embroiled in a taboo lesbian romance. In this searing portrait of the polarized world we live in, all four characters go to their absolute limit—and beyond—in their struggle to defend their deeply-held and conflicting viewpoints on freedom, faith, family and love.

Director’s Note

The idea behind Unfreedom came from the desire to express the lack of freedom in the socio-economic structure of our contemporary times. A profound piece of poetry, Ye dagh dagh ujala, written by Faiz Ahmed Faiz inspired this expression.

The root of these lying in a society based on capitalism, patriarchy and its interrelationship with religion and violence, I chose the identities of Muslims and homosexuals in two distinct geographies.

In a world where mass extermination and discrimination happens in the name of ‘identity’, Unfreedom shows that people who are considered as belonging to a certain identity are all unique in their approaches towards the most pressing issues of their life.

The film examines the struggle of different individuals against violent prejudices – all seeking their own road to what they believe could set them free.

Who Can Host?

If you are any of the following, we’d love to collaborate:

  • College or University
  • Film Society / Film Club
  • NGO or Non-Profit working with communities
  • Art & Cultural Organisation
  • Corporation seeking meaningful employee engagement
  • Restaurant / Café / Pub / Pop-Up Event Space

Together, we can create a global network of screenings that redefine what Guerrilla Social Impact Films can achieve.

Why Screen Unfreedom?

01

Engages your community with strong social-impact themes

02

Encourages reflection, dialogue, and creative interpretation

03

Inspires discussion and empathy

04

Connects your audience with tomorrow’s thinkers, artists, and changemakers

What We Offer

01

Completely Free Screening (no licensing fee)

02

Free entry for your audience

03

Flexible timing to suit your schedule

04

Optional Discussion Guide and promotional toolkit

05

Optional Q&A with Director Raj Amit Kumar

Frequently asked questions

Is the screening really free for universities, colleges, film clubs, and organizations?

Yes, 100% free. There is no licensing fee, no ticket charge, and no hidden cost to your institution or organization. We only want the film to be seen and discussed.

What exactly do you provide for a campus or community screening?
  • Screening file in the format you need (DCP, MOV, ProRes, MP4)
  • Public Performance Rights for your event
  • Digital posters, social-media kit, and press photos
  • Discussion guide and study materials
  • Live or pre-recorded Q&A with director Raj Amit Kumar
  • Optional short introduction video by the director
Can the screening be in-person, online, or both?

Yes to all. Most universities now prefer in-person or hybrid events, but we support whatever works for you.

How many people can attend?

As many as your venue or Zoom allows — 15 or 1,500, it makes no difference to us.

Do you help with promotion on campus?

Absolutely. We send ready-to-use posters, Instagram/Facebook graphics, email text for student listservs, and a short trailer edited specifically for campus promotion.

Is this film suitable/appropriate for students?
Yes. BROWN is………
It deals maturely with themes of immigration, child neglect, and survival.
Why are you offering free screenings instead of a normal theatrical or streaming release?

Commercial studios and platforms rarely take risks on quiet, stereotype-breaking social-issue films. After Raj Amit Kumar’s first film UNFREEDOM was banned in India and still found its audience through grassroots support, we decided to build our own distribution path — one screen, one campus, one community at a time. Universities and passionate organizations are the heart of that path.

How does PlayStudios survive if everything is free?

Separate from the free screening program, we have a parallel “Gift-a-Screening / Sponsor-a-Screening” initiative where individuals and donors cover viewing links for entire campuses or communities. Those contributions fund our not-for-profit operations and goes into developing our next guerrilla feature. We also seek Audiences to Buy tickets for other and donations so that we can function as an organisation.

Can my university or organization become an official partner?

Yes! We love adding partner logos to the film’s website and end credits (with your permission). Many immigration-rights groups, South-Asian student associations, and film departments already do this. Please reach out to us if that is your interest.

How quickly can we set up a screening?

Usually within a week. Once you pick a date and tell us the file format, we send everything within 72 hours. And also start promoting the screening on our Social Media.

Who do I contact to book a screening?

Just write to [your email] or use the contact form on this website. We will reply to you as soon as possible.

Will the film ever be on Netflix, Amazon, Theaters, etc.?

Right now our entire focus is direct grassroots and campus distribution. Our goal is carve a new way of distribution for Guerrilla Social Impact films.

Next Step

If your committee or organization is interested, we’ll be happy to arrange:

  1. An online viewing link for internal preview
  2. An interactive discussion with the director about hosting logistics

Please fill out the Host a Screening Form below to get started 👇

HOST A SCREENING – INFORMATION FORM

Screenings

Attend a Screening
May-June 2015
DATECITYVENUE
29-May to 04-JuneNYAMC Empire 25
29-May to 04-JuneLALaemmle's NoHo 7
08-MayMumbaiFilm Fest, IIT Bombay
10-MayMumbaiThe Hive
30-MayMumbaiThe Hive
31-MayMumbaiThe Hive
June 2015
05-June to 11-JuneFremont, CACine Grand Fremont 7
05-June to 11-JuneCupertino (San Jose), CABluelight 3
05-June to 11-JuneCambridge (Boston), MAApple Cinema Fresh Pond Mall 10
05-June to 11-JuneHouston, TXPremiere Rennaissance
05-June to 11-JuneBurleson (Forth Worth), TXPremiere Burleson
05-June to 11-JuneHollywood, FLFlippers Cinema
5-June to 11-JuneAtlanta, GAPlaza Theater
05-June to 11-JuneAnn Arbor, MIGoodrich Quality 16
05-June to 11-JuneBatavia (Chicago), ILGoodrich Randall 15
23-JuneWashington, DCBloombars
13-JuneMumbaiThe Hive
14-JuneJamshedpurThe Celluloid Chapter
16-JuneJamshedpurThe Celluloid Chapter
20-JunePuneThe Raju Sutar's Studio
22-JuneDelhiNaz Foundation
22-JuneBengaluruAlternative Law Forum
23-JuneBengaluruOne Shanti Road
July 2015
DATECITYVENUE
04-JulyPuneSujata Dharap's Art House
10-JulyPuneFTII Pune
27-JulyBhopalANSH Happiness Society
August 2015
DATECITYVENUE
06-AugustDelhiKunzum Cafe
10-AugustPuneAarti Kirloskar's Art Gallery
14-AugustDelhiCentre For Civil Society
19-AugustDelhiAnti-Social (Event-1)
19-AugustDelhiAnti-Social (Event-2)
22-AugustBengaluruKynkyny Art Gallery
28-AugustDelhiNirantar
29-AugustKolkataWeavers Studio Centre for the Arts
30-AugustBengaluruAtta Galatta
September 2015
DATECITYVENUE
05-SeptemberDelhiWonderwall (Event-1)
05-SeptemberDelhiWonderwall (Event-2)
11-SeptemberBengaluruAzim Premji University
13-SeptemberGurgaonSandy Bar & Kitchen
19-SeptemberDelhiBaoli Tarehd
19-SeptemberMumbaiThe Jeff Goldberg Studio
24-SeptemberTrivandrumSoorya India
October 2015
DATECITYVENUE
04-OctoberBengaluruBflat Bar
05-OctoberDelhiThe Attic
16-OctoberDelhiStudio Safdar
17-OctoberBengaluruUrban Solace
17-OctoberAhmedabadConflictorium
17-OctoberGurgaonChill Box
22-OctoberBengaluruThe Humming Tree
30-OctoberBengaluruYours Truly
30-OctoberMumbaiStudio 62
November 2015
DATECITYVENUE
5-NovemberMumbaiThe Pantry
6-NovemberDelhiAmbedkar University
10-NovemberKolkataPrantakatha
29-NovemberPondicherryLa Marina
December 2015
DATECITYVENUE
6-DecemberDelhiCoworking
11-DecemberMumbaiHumaramovie
18-DecemberBengaluruThe Open Film School
18-DecemberGoaCarpe Diem
21-DecemberGuwahatiANP+
22-DecemberKalimpong - West BengalCafe Refuel
26-DecemberBengaluruQueer Campus
30-DecemberTrivandrumGramachitra Film Society
January 2016
DATECITYVENUE
3-JanuaryBengaluruSuchitra Film Society
3-JanuaryKolkataSappho for Equality
3-JanuaryCalicutMBL Media School
17-JanuaryKolkataEye Art Collection
18-JanuaryAurovilleMMC Auditorium
20-JanuaryThrissurKodungallur Film Society
23-JanuaryByndur-UdupiChitra Samaj Film Society
24-JanuaryCoimbatoreCinema Club of Coimbatore
29-JanuaryDelhiMiranda House
31-JanuaryTrivandrumFilm Lovers Cultural Association
February 2016
DATECITYVENUE
8-FebruaryKottayamDepartment of Students Union - MG University
10-FebruaryNagpurSarathi Trust
11-FebruaryDelhiGandhi Peace Foundation
13-FebruaryChhak-OrrisaFellowship
14-FebruaryDharwadChitra Film Society
14-FebruaryDelhiKinky Collective
15-FebruaryPondicherryAgora Discussion Forum
16-FebruaryDelhiSt. Stephens College
20-FebruaryMaduraiOffice Screening
20-FebruaryBengaluruWorkbench Projects
21-FebruaryBengaluruIMI Film Club
25-FebruaryCalicutCalicut University
27-FebruaryMumbaiFortySix & Two Studio
27-FebruaryDelhiResidence Screening
March 2016
DATECITYVENUE
3-MarchVishakapatnamVizag Film Society
6-MarchSilcharNIT Silchar
9-MarchDelhiNIFT
10-MarchGoaThe Space
12-MarchPondicherrySahodaran
12-MarchHyderabadDramonan
13-MarchUduppiChitra Samaj
15-MarchThrissurShri Kerala Varma College
21-MarchDelhi18+Confession
21-MarchBengaluruChrist University
26-MarchHyderabadGlitters Film Academy
27-MarchMysoreMysore Film Society
29-MarchMaduraiLENS
30-MarchTrivandrumGramam Film Society
31-MarchTrivandrumCentre for Development Studies
April 2016
DATECITYVENUE
1-AprilCalicutNIT Calicut
2-AprilMohaliIISER
3-AprilErnakulamSaju Mannathur
3-AprilDelhiOutsiders Cafe
4-AprilBengaluruStrawberry fields-NLSIU
5-AprilBengaluruBHIVE
9-AprilMumbaiLITMUS
12-AprilAngamaly-ErnakulamPlan B Infotainments
22-AprilMumbaiThe Glitch

WHO IS ON TEAM UNFREEDOM?

Our heartfelt thanks go to the experienced and dedicated cast and crew of UNFREEDOM, whose relentless effort and sacrifices made this film a reality. Braving the harsh Montana winters, they captured the essence of Butte’s community, proving what can be achieved with local talent and determination.
Raj Amit Kumar
Director
Hari Nair

Atanu Mukherjee

Damon Taylor
Jesse Kotansky
Wayne Sharpe

Resul Pookutty

Deepa Bajaj
Roli Chaturvedi

Ruchi Bhimani

Aftab Asghar

Dhananjay