This conversation with director Minhal Baig was brought to you by A Female Lens, in partnership with Free The Work. A Female Lens is a podcast spotlighting women in film dedicated to excellence, co-hosted by Jennifer Zahlit + Larkin Bell.
Minhal Baig is a writer/director. She previously served as a story editor on Bojack Horseman (Netflix) and staff writer on Ramy (Hulu). In 2017, she was chosen to participate in Ryan Murphy's Half Foundation Directing Mentorship.
Her feature-length film, Hala, about a Pakistani-American, Muslim teenager who uncovers a secret that threatens to unravel her family. The coming-of-age film premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Hala was executive produced by Jada Pinkett-Smith and was acquired by Apple straight out of the Sundance Film Festival. You can watch Hala during its limited theatrical release on November 22nd, and you can stream the film via Apple TV+ on December 6th.
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