The Fisherman and the Banker (Film Screening followed by Panel Discussion)
Margalla Film Festival (Day 1)
The Fisherman and the Banker is a modern-day David and Goliath tale, chronicling a fishing community in India’s Gulf of Kutch as they take on the World Bank’s private lending arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), for funding a coal-fired power plant that threatens their way of life.
Filmed over a decade, the documentary captures the fishermen’s fight against industrial encroachment and their alliance with US lawyers to file a groundbreaking lawsuit, which reaches the US Supreme Court in 2018. With a poetic and observational lens, the film explores their legal battle and profound bond with the environment, posing a powerful question: can the resilience of a community rewrite the rules of global power—or will the might of corporations and institutions crush their fight for justice?
Guest Speaker:
- Sheena Sumaria is a filmmaker known for her impactful documentaries that explore social and environmental issues. She is the director of “The Fisherman and the Banker.” Her work emphasizes the power of grassroots activism and the capacity of local communities to challenge global systems in pursuit of justice.
Panelists:
- Dr. Nudrat Piracha is a mediator with extensive expertise in international arbitration, investment treaty disputes and cross-border litigation. A seasoned practitioner with a strong academic foundation, holding advanced degrees and certifications from prestigious institutions such as Harvard Law School, The George Washington University, and the London School of Economics.
- Dr. Komal Niazi is a researcher at East China Normal University, specializing in geo-cultural studies, cultural diffusion, and ethnographic food traditions along the New Silk Road and Belt & Road Initiative (BRI).
- Osama Malik is an advocate with a keen interest in arts, culture, and environmental issues. He will moderate the session.
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
Click here for Google Maps Location
