Archive of films Ecstatic / Mast Qalandar

Germany / Pakistan
2005, 30 min

Section: Documentary Films - Competition
Year: 2006

Mast Qalandar was a saint from the 13th century who practised Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam. Mast is the name for someone who is brought into an ecstatic state, engulfed by the rhythm of meditation. Passow’s stunning film captures the gathering which occurs every year to honour the saint’s encounter with Allah in Sehwan Sharif in Pakistan.

Synopsis

Mast Qalandar was a saint from the beginning of the 13th century who practised Sufism, the system of a mystical branch of Islam. Mast is the name for someone who is brought into an ecstatic state, engulfed by the rhythm of meditation. Passow’s film captures the gathering of approximately one million believers which occurs every year to honour the saint’s encounter with Allah in Sehwan Sharif in Pakistan. The film brings stunning images of the essence of the lifestyle chosen by these advocates of mystical Islam, so far removed from any form of fundamentalism.

About the director

Till Passow (b. 1969, Munich) studied at the Rudolf Steiner school in Munich and the Konrad Wolf Film and Television School in Potsdam. To date, his most successful film was his third, Howrah Howrah (2001), which was also awarded a Special Mention by the FIPRESCI jury at the IDFA documentary FF in Amsterdam. Filmography: My Father Mrs. Hiller (1998), Boy Racer (1999), Adi and the Rest (1999), Larry Wild Man Fischer (2002).

Contacts

Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen Konrad Wolf
Marlene-Dietrich-Allee 11, 14482, Potsdam
Germany
Tel: +49 331 620 2564
Fax: +49 331 620 2199
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.hff-potsdam.de

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Documentary Films - Competition

Director:	Till Passow
Screenplay:	Till Passow
Dir. of Photography:	Lars Lenski
Music:	Arib Khan
Editor:	Sudip Chattopadhyaya
Producer:	Holger Lochau
Production:	HFF Konrad Wolf
Contact:	Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen Konrad Wolf

Guests

Till Passow

Film Director