From Oral Realities to Reel: History, Memory and Stories in HunDan
Aga Khan Centre, London, N1C 4DN
Wednesday 4th November 2026 5:00PM
Join the Ismaili Special Collections Unit (ISCU) at The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) for a screening of HunDan: An Echo of a Dirge, the first feature film in the Burushaski language, followed by a conversation with its writer and director, Karamat Ali.
Based on a Burushaski folk tale from Hunza, HunDan follows a community rethinking its relationship with the natural world. Shot in the Hunza and Nagar valleys of northern Pakistan, the film was selected as Pakistan's official submission for the 98th Academy Awards.
After the screening, Rizwan Karim, Oral History Coordinator at IIS, will be in conversation with Karamat Ali. The discussion will explore the folk stories and oral traditions behind HunDan, the challenges of making an independent film in Burushaski, and the importance of preserving Burusho indigenous knowledge, language and stories of the natural world for future generations.
This event is part of IIS Oral History Project's ongoing work to record, preserve and share the living heritage of Ismaili and related communities across different regions and languages.
Based on a Burushaski folk tale from Hunza, HunDan follows a community rethinking its relationship with the natural world. Shot in the Hunza and Nagar valleys of northern Pakistan, the film was selected as Pakistan's official submission for the 98th Academy Awards.
After the screening, Rizwan Karim, Oral History Coordinator at IIS, will be in conversation with Karamat Ali. The discussion will explore the folk stories and oral traditions behind HunDan, the challenges of making an independent film in Burushaski, and the importance of preserving Burusho indigenous knowledge, language and stories of the natural world for future generations.
This event is part of IIS Oral History Project's ongoing work to record, preserve and share the living heritage of Ismaili and related communities across different regions and languages.
Event Details
Doors Open at 5:00PM
From 5:00PM to 6:30PM
