“Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor (“The Elephant Whisperers”) and Michelin-starred chef and filmmaker Vikas Khanna (“The Last Color”) have boarded Oscar-qualified animated short “American Sikh” as executive producers.
The film tells the true story of an American-born, turban-wearing Sikh illustrator, writer, performance artist, diversity speaker and creator of Sikhtoons.com, Vishavjit Singh, who after a lifetime of facing prejudice, self-doubt and violence, finally finds acceptance in a superhero costume. Singh is publicly known for his Captain America persona — a turbaned and bearded Sikh — fighting against bigotry, intolerance and perceptions of what an American should look like post 9/11.”
“American Sikh” was created in partnership with Singh as the director-producer and director Ryan Westra (live action short “Red, White and Beard,” starring Singh). It was animated by Studio Showoff, a Melbourne-based production house founded by Ivan Dixon and Sean Zwan that has produced work for Childish Gambino, HBO and Cartoon Network.
The film has won best short animation at Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama, best animation at San Diego International Film Festival, the grand jury award for best short documentary at and the audience choice award at the Tasveer Film Festival in Seattle, a special mention at Chicago International Film Festival and an honorable mention at Tallgrass Film Festival.”
The true and unlikely story of an American born, turban-wearing Sikh man, Vishavjit Singh, who after a lifetime of facing prejudice, self-doubt and violence, finally finds acceptance in a superhero costume.
This project matters.
Outside of India, there are very few Sikhs seen in media. Due to the lack of representation and the statistically small global population of Sikhs as a whole, the vast majority of Americans and the world at large know almost nothing about Sikhs. Lack of knowledge is not only an education and awareness issue, but historically is the root of many issues such as xenophobia, intolerance, racism and violent hate crimes.
What little knowledge people may have about Sikhs most often boils down to two things: a turban and a beard. It’s no secret that this surface-level depiction in American media is often the villain or the clown. This is the image that needs to be transformed - and that’s exactly what Sikh Captain America, Vishavjit Singh, is set out to do.
Meet the team.
Ryan Westra
Ryan Westra is Los Angeles-based director and cinematographer of documentary and commercial content. Ryan has worked with HBO Documentary Films, Verizon Wireless, Dreamworks, the Atlantic, the BBC, the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Panorama Music Festival, and has had his work featured on FunnyOrDie, Upworthy, The Huffington Post, and the BBC.
Vishavjit Singh
Vishavjit is a New York City based illustrator, performance artist, speaker and creator of Sikhtoons.com. He got his spark for cartooning in the post 9/11 tragedy when Americans with turbaned and bearded countenance became targets of hate/bias crimes. For the past few years he has been traveling across the US with his Captain America persona armed with turban, beard and humor to tackle fear, anxiety, bigotry and intolerance.
Studio Showoff
Studio Showoff is a Melbourne based production house founded by Ivan Dixon and Sean Zwan specializing in everything animation from boutique ad campaigns through to full TV series for children and adults alike. Credits include HBO, Childish Gambino, Twitch and more.
Why Animation?
There are many reasons why Vishavjit and I decided to make an animated film about the origin of Sikh Captain America. Firstly, it’s simply more unique. There are very few animated short films made each year and, therefore, these films are more likely to receive attention online, at film festivals, and even at the Oscars.
Secondly, animation has no expiration date. Unlike short films that use the cameras and technology of the day in which they were created, animated films continue to feel new and relevant decades after they’re completed.
Lastly, and most importantly, animation does a great job of taking emotionally heavy and violent subject matters (like the genocide in 1984 and the hate crimes following 9/11) and show them in a way that is easier for the audience to watch and understand. Live action documentaries that have been made in the past about 1984 especially have found it very difficult to reach large audiences and haven’t been very successful in raising awareness. We believe animation allows us the ability to touch on the reality of these topics in a way that is digestible and informative while still keeping the integrity of Vishavjit’s positive, inspiring story.