http://www.valleyofsaints.com/press daily 0.75 2015-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1419086968262-DGF6SWB03XW24VVGS700/VOS+Film+Frames-6.jpg Press http://www.valleyofsaints.com/home daily 0.75 2026-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418679964116-ZDADQ1WVTMJTK6KTF003/lake_front.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418768653863-6FI94HEL35CXXHLT9CPD/death+joke.jpeg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418683373919-N8C42KLNE1P12EFMX6KF/image-asset.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418681549729-57MTXRUVS0Q19JDI6PO0/image-asset.jpeg Home http://www.valleyofsaints.com/our-story daily 1.0 2015-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418760703807-OE75EDTGQMA9HE65HSAE/IMG_7007+10292010.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418914153795-54KERNTS1OY2HNXFE8W6/Valley_of_Saints_filmstill1_GulzarBhat_byYoniBrook.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418916367187-L36MMB5OYXZ7DF15MAYK/image-asset.png About http://www.valleyofsaints.com/watch-1 daily 0.75 2026-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418915252913-BHL08UCPFNTPZTVAMYNW/Valley_of_Saints_GulzarBhat_NeeloferHamid_byYoniBrook.jpg See It https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418915329507-D4UUI55ICYZY5A5KKHAJ/Valley_of_Saints_GulzarBhat_NeeloferHamid_byYoniBrook.jpg See It http://www.valleyofsaints.com/contact daily 0.75 2014-12-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418775575217-6XXHPBS8EJPA8H1L2C3L/Valley_of_Saints_filmstill2_GulzarBhat_AfzalSofi_byYoniBrook.jpg Contact http://www.valleyofsaints.com/new-index-1 daily 0.75 2014-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418771490871-MPHM6DD0QSC0ZJD5F324/IMG_5026.jpg Making Of https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418859719543-OOH89JKUH5TNCMVCENVE/IMG_1698.jpg Making Of https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418758659550-E5X6IA87T719J94MZZY7/image-asset.jpeg Making Of Gulzar Bhat (Bulzar) Gulzar is a boatman and resident of Dal Lake, Kashmir. Gulzar was discovered through a year-long, embedded casting process in the Dal Lake boatmen community. After Musa worked, ate and slept under the same mosquito net with him, Gulzar was cast. He is available for tours on Dal Lake, just stop by the boat stand at Nehru Park on Dal Lake and ask for him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418759305320-M1HXLHAIOW7R2NK1AZ5O/asifa+headshot.jpg Making Of Neelofar Hamid (Asifa) Neelofar is the only professional actress in the film. She has appeared in numerous Kashmiri soap operas and melodramas. She’s also trained in traditional singing and dance. Neelo has worked on several local melodramas and soap operas. She enjoyed using a more naturalistic approach to acting in this film, allowing her to tap into her natural independent spirit . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418759527347-4U6FN96QTQCUYZ7ZW0UT/Afzal+headshot.jpg Making Of Afzal Sofi (Afzal) Afzal Sofi is a journalist in Srinagar, Kashmir. Originally brought on the team to translate Kashmiri dialogue for the film and coach actors, Afzal quickly developed a compelling chemistry with the real life Gulzar. After displaying his comic charm and knack for physical comedy, Afzal was cast in this major supporting role.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418769038282-V3KDI9S2VO241PHR4OKN/image-asset.jpeg Making Of Musa Syeed (Writer/Director) Valley of Saints is Musa’s first feature film. A son of Kashmiri immigrants, Musa had not been to his parents’ homeland for nearly 20 years before making the film. He previously co-produced “Bronx Princess” (Official Selection, Berlinale) and “A Son’s Sacrifice” (Best Documentary Short, Tribeca), with Valley of Saints Cinematographer Yoni Brook. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418857645512-S44P36PWUDRCG1YCLHMS/Mubashir-Headshot2.jpg Making Of Mubashir Mohi-ud-din (Composer) Mubashir (aka “Din”) is the songwriter, singer, and guitarist for the rock n’ roll band Zerobridge, based in New York City. Musa approached Din to compose the score to Valley of Saints in Kashmir. Din’s score captures the country’s breathtaking landscape and the isolation of the film’s characters. “The process of working with some of the most talented musicians in Srinagar augments the feeling that this film has brought worlds together to experience a story of love and hope.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418769072086-WI6ZPYS4YB9P2UT3XM04/image-asset.jpeg Making Of Nick Bruckman (Producer Nick previously directed and produced the feature documentary LA AMERICANA, which won best documentary at the New York and Los Angeles Latino Film Festivals and broadcast worldwide. In addition to independent film, Nicholas’ production company People’s Television creates commercial content for brands including IBM, USAID, Nissan, Philips, and Facebook. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418858159095-607FHTYRIUMYIQJBFJXP/image-asset.jpeg Making Of Altaf Mehraj (Production Manager) Altaf is a practicing lawyer and is currently posted at the High Court of Kashmir. During the 2010 curfew, when the film was in production, the courts were closed and Altaf was out of work. A family friend of Musa’s, Altaf knew the difficulties the film’s skeleton crew was facing and came to help out. He quickly became indispensable in all aspects of production. Altaf has been instrumental in leading a number of local social issue campaigns https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418769106429-HO3YZRAWU0RIMKS96GEP/image-asset.jpeg Making Of Yoni Brook (Cinematographer) Yoni Brook is a director and cinematographer. He is nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his work on Valley of Saints, which he shot with no professional crew under a military curfew in Kashmir. In collaboration with Musa Syeed, Brook has directed three documentary films: BRONX PRINCESS (Berlinale), THE CALLING (PBS), and A SON’S SACRIFICE (Winner, Tribeca Film Festival: Best Documentary Short). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770663642-W1MPP0UZHVBUIIDFLE18/IMG_0014+10262010.jpg Making Of - What's My Motivation? Musa rehearses with a soldier before shooting a curfew scene. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770684173-PHH1WXSC0A2VFBQJTMI2/IMG_3226.jpg Making Of - Shaving for Sound To get the best sound, Nick had to clear up the hair that would bristle against Gulzar's clip-on microphone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770692527-VX4OUAOAPD4NNGM2BMTT/IMG_3916.jpg Making Of - Keeping Cool In the middle of the lake, it can be hard to find shade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770700172-HGQA3IFY3XJRJDUFUVOJ/IMG_4655.jpg Making Of - Doc Skills We drew on our previous documentary experience to shoot during live events, like this vegetable market. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770726695-W34ZKK75LP8QM73DH6TO/IMG_6397.jpg Making Of - Crowd Control Almost everywhere we shot, large crowds would gather. Altaf was great at keeping onlookers under control. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770744676-NBB7H5J5ZDRF70VALLZA/IMG_7178+492008.jpg Making Of - Curfewed Production A military curfew lasted the whole of production, with only a few off days for us to get out and about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770754751-K3WO4CFSPKI9SA3G7U6Q/IMG_7410+1132010.jpg Making Of - Hold Tight Musa holds on to Yoni for a roof shoot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770770670-OW0VKAV4LE1J8D5KYNM7/IMG_7754.jpg Making Of - First Aid During a shoot in a graveyard, a group of kids threw stones at us, mimicking the protesters on the streets. After Gulzar was hit, we rushed him to a doctor. He only had a minor injury and he recovered quickly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770774372-LMGDC5MHXA1MVJ3CV709/P1140052.jpg Making Of - It Takes A Village The communities of Dal Lake came out to help us in every way--from providing crew, actors, transport and food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770794939-JWSH15KU202U3SNHSIQ9/P1160170.jpg Making Of - Keep Warm On a cold night shoot, our friends used the production lights as 'kangris' the traditional Kashmiri firepot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418859923317-58UFYX7H49YRRM2061XE/IMG_7920+1192010.jpg Making Of - Keep it Close With a curfew on our hands, we kept our crew small and our equipment light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418859970389-KATW5A5JIV85VGJ3E5XP/P1150041.jpg Making Of - What Goes Up... Yoni would climb up any roof, scale any wall to get a shot... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5411b900e4b011b825793c46/1418770677474-NIZ75EKTXT0483VK2JQD/IMG_0045+1152010.jpg Making Of - ...Must Come Down ...but Yoni broke his toe during a shoot. He pushed through for the last couple weeks of production. http://www.valleyofsaints.com/read-me-alex daily 0.75 2025-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53d7e714e4b0cb1125a8185a/1408049628553-DI4M8C71OPT845LWBJZI/img_0843.jpg Read Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53d7e714e4b0cb1125a8185a/1408051089601-1FGOGC94AFH3382KHIDS/image-asset.png Read Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53d7e714e4b0cb1125a8185a/1408051210145-TJZIWROSOKJNXSL492HI/image-asset.png Read Me