Challenge grant

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Posted by:  Len

We are thrilled to have received the first challenge grant for Threads.  A donor has offered to match the first $750 in contributions to the film by mid-December via the International Documentary Association.   This means that your tax-deductible contribution can be doubled.

Funds raised will be used to pay for filming before the end of November of harvest scenes and women’s lives in Bangladesh.  Please join us in being part of a legacy!

Nobanno - Harvest scenes. Surayia Rahman design. Photo copyright by Anil Advani and Kantha Productions LLC.

Many thanks again for everyone’s support!

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Bangladesh Winter Mela in Seattle

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Posted by:  Cathy

Len and I were very excited to receive an invitation from the Bangladesh Cultural Committee to the community’s winter celebration.   For those not familiar with it, the word “mela” comes from Sanskrit and is used in Bangladesh and elsewhere in South Asia to denote a gathering or fair, originally in rural areas but now in urban settings as well.

The Cultural Committee kindly allowed us some time to speak about Surayia and Threads, as well as to display nakshi kantha tapestries, other textiles of Bangladesh and promotional materials for the film.  We enjoyed meeting  Bangladeshis living in the Seattle area, eating some delicious food and enjoying a “trip to Bangladesh” without having to travel far from home.

Donobat!

Taking a closer look at "The Chess Players." Photo copyright Kantha Productions LLC

 

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Fiscal sponsorship!

Posted by:  Len

We are very pleased to announce that Threads has been approved for fiscal sponsorship by the International Documentary Association (IDA) of Los Angeles.  IDA, which is a not-for-profit organization with tax exempt status in the U.S., supports documentary film making worldwide and is dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation for the documentary genre.

The “Support the Film” page of our website has been updated to reflect IDA as the main way to contribute to ensuring that the story of Surayia, the art she created, and the women of Arshi is shared with audiences worldwide.

Fiscal sponsorship is an important milestone for an independent film project.  U.S. persons can donate to Threads through IDA and receive a tax deduction, to the extent allowed by law, for the donation.  IDA then passes the money to our film production company, Kantha Productions LLC, for use on the film.  Because IDA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, many corporations will match gifts to it made by their employees, effectively doubling the amount of an individual’s donation.

We are extremely pleased to be working with such a professional and respected organization.

Thank you in advance for considering a contribution to the film.

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Presentation on Bangladesh and Threads

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Posted by:  Cathy

Cathy talking about Bangladesh to a group of Seattle-area seniors. Photo: Bob Rogers. Used with permission.

I recently had a wonderful experience talking about Bangladesh, Surayia, nakshi kantha and the film project to a large and very interested group at a Seattle retirement community.  The questions were well-informed and it was great to meet many life-long stitchers who really appreciated Surayia’s work.  We have been invited back to screen the finished film and look forward to doing so.

Many thanks to friends Jack and Rose as well as to the community’s Peace and Justice Committee for making this event possible.

Examining Surayia's "Gypsy Wharf" tapestry. Photo: Bob Rogers. Used with permission.

 

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