Nikhail Asnani

Santa Claus in Baghdad

Raouf Zaki

Tamara Dhia, Nora Armani

In impoverished Baghdad under Saddam's dictatorship, 16-year-old Amal hopes to regain her social status at school by volunteering to find a book as a class gift for the departing literature teacher. Meanwhile, her emotionally fragile little brother becomes obsessed with the notion that a visiting uncle from America--whom he confuses with Santa Claus--will bring him toys. Ashamed never to have been able to give his son a toy, the child's father sells some more prized family possessions and buys a model car for him.

Something Round

Nikhail Asnani

Jason Greene, Sandra Seeling

A hypnotherapist reels in the moon which drives her into a state of obsession.

Playback

Nikhail Asnani

Andrea settles in at an Airbnb out of town, to record coachwhip snake sounds. Once in the woods, she hears a strange gagging who she soon discovers is her Airbnb host. It's part of her process. Intrigued, she gets obsessed with the sound which leads to a terrifying climax.

My Boyfriend the Boogeyman

Nikhail Asnani

An offbeat comedy about a young man dating the invisible monster under his bed.

Mama's Home

Nikhail Asnani

Geena returns from jail to her son's home only to find out he's gay and married. Her son Matthew wants to give her another chance but his husband fears what she might be capable of.