Reel Q Presents: “We Are Faheem & Karun”

As the weather gets colder, what’s better than curling up with your community for a movie night? For the better part of a decade, City of Asylum has been partnering with Reel Q to bring unique, international queer films to audiences for free in a series known as “Reel Stories.” This December screening presents We Are Faheem & Karun, which follows an unlikely connection between two young men divided by duty and identity. Faheem (Mir Tawseef), a Kashmiri college student, meets Karun (Akash Menon), an Indian border guard, at a checkpoint on his journey home to the remote village of Gurez. What begins as a simple exchange — an apple passed through a gate — slowly becomes a quiet act of longing and recognition. Their attraction grows in a place defined by barriers: of religion, politics, and the unspoken rules that govern both men’s lives.

Inspired by the real-life story of an Indian soldier, director Onir creates a restrained but deeply emotional portrait of forbidden love. Shot in Kashmir with local actors, the film captures the stark beauty of the region alongside its tension and isolation. We Are Faheem & Karun is both a love story and a human story — about connection in a landscape where every boundary, personal or political, seems unbreakable.

Reel Q is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world. Starting in 1985, Reel Q’s mission has been to increase the availability and accessibility of queer film in Pittsburgh and its surrounding region, highlighting the diverse experiences of our worldwide community. 

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant, Cucina Alfabeto, is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Please visit Open Table or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.

Reminder: Reel Q screenings now take place upstairs by the main stage, rather than downstairs in the word cellar.