AMAR WALAYou're LISTENING to THE SHOW Amar Wala was born in Bombay, India, in 1983. He moved to Toronto, Canada with his family at the age of 11, and after finishing secondary-school, he enrolled in York University’s Film and Video program in Toronto. In his time at York, Amar wrote, produced, and directed several projects including: A Fighting Chance, a documentary short on the struggle of national athletes in Canada; told through the eyes of Saeed Baghbani, Canadian Grandmaster in karate, and 3 time Pan-American medalist for Canada; and Park of Lonely Benches, a dramatic short focusing on the tumultuous relationship between a young Persian man, and his estranged mother. Amar’s final senior project, which he wrote, directed and produced, is entitled The Good Son. This short drama tells the true story of a young Egyptian boy who is forced to act as a translator as Canadian authorities interrogate his father. The film sheds light on an unjust practice employed by the Canadian government. It recently won Best Screenplay at the 2007 Cinesiege Film Festival in Toronto, and has also been accepted into several festivals around the world, including The 4th annual Dubai International Film Festival. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from York University in the summer of 2007, Amar began working with Schafer/Thurling Productions, an independent production company based in Toronto. They have several projects in development and production, including a television series for Canada’s national network, the CBC. The show stars Dr. Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, and concentrates on the lives of wrongly convicted people around the world. Dr. Carter has seen The Good Son, and applauded it. He has been generous enough to lend his name in support of the film. Amar is extremely happy in his work with Schafer/Thurling, as it allows him to continue producing work that is both dramatically potent, and socially valuable. The Good Son is a perfect indication of the kind of work Amar hopes to produce for the rest of his career. Don's film THE GOOD SON played at the WILDsound Film Festival in August 2008
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