San Diego Asian Film Festival 2009

American-born, half-Pakistani Ray Rehman comes home one night to find his father on his doorstep after his mother threw him out. It's an awkward time for his father to move in as Ray just proposed to his Caucasian girlfriend - who hasn't given him an answer. While trying to get his parents back together, Ray meets Sana, a South Asian girl of mixed descent and must decide where his identity truly lies.

Zachary Levi, star of the TV show "Chuck", is hilariously convincing as the half-white, half-Pakistani protagonist Ray. Brian George, an actor with a long history of appearances and roles in movies and TV shows is even more brilliant as his hard-to-please father. The film's casting is solid with very natural performances all around, and most notably, the beautiful Sarah Shahi from "The L Word" who plays Sana. Ray and Sana's onscreen chemistry in this romantic indie film is rare and unforced magic.

Jaffar Mahmood’s debut feature SHADES OF RAY is a comedic, heartfelt tale about the idiosyncrasies that make family and relationships so unique, no matter how or where they originate. Full of laughs from beginning to end, this film is sure to please anyone or any couple, while also being a thoughtful commentary about mixed race identity.

Director Jaffar Mahmood is scheduled to attend Oct 25 screening.

Co-presented by:
San Diego Arthouse Movies
South Asian Bar Association of San Diego (SABA-SD)
Mixed Student Union, UCSD