"Aref is a Man among Boys"
— Dusty McKeelan (Instructor, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, New York)
Aref has 'the Drive'. the Passion. And the Will. He is eager to learn; takes direction well, and pushes his limits... and has a need to grow. Aref has an incredible work ethic and THAT is the most important thing for an actor to have....that Discipline... Directors & Producers be aware: here's an Actor that will work to get inside of a role. And... he will deliver."
— Benard Cummings (Acting Instructor, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, New York;
Professor Adjunct of Acting, Conservatory of Acting, SUNY Purchase, New York)
"Aref inspires me. Talented, disciplined, hardworking... Extremely intelligent & committed to his Craft... Aref is a terrific person to be around & to work with. I freely recommend Aref and his Talent."
— Brian O'Neil, Former Agent and Best-selling Author of 'Acting As a Business'
FESTIVAL UPDATE: The Journey Continues...
Aref's short film "THE PROFESSIONALS" is selected to be in the 'International Competition 1' section of
The 9th Asiana International Short Film Festival 2011
Seoul, November 4th and 7th.
* * *
After being part of 5 other selective and prestigious film festivals around the World, this will be THE PROFESSIONALS' 6th introduction to the global audience, and an ASIAN Premiere at AISFF 2011!
- Check it out!
"AISFF: A total of 2,173 submitted films (519 domestic and 1,654 international films) from 90 countries! A total of 54 selected films from 35 countries through eight preliminary juries' cut-throat preliminary! These films will show some powerful subject-conscious works dealing with deepening human alienation, the loss of family and problem of domestic violence, deprived human dignity in war and society where human rights are violated. These will touch the audience's hearts with keen introspection on human beings and society..."
PICS: Here
CASTING ALERT: Aref appears as a 'Guest Artiste'
in Tennessee Williams'
"THE LADY OF LARKSPUR LOTION*"
* Larkspur Lotion is a common treatment for body vermin.
29th & 30th of October, 2011 at 7:30pm
at SHADHONA (Banani)
PLEASE GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY - AS THESE ARE VERY EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCES WITH VERY, VERY LIMITED SEATS!!
For TKT details, pls visit: Aref's FB-Page
++++
Kalpataru -- a School of Dance, Music and Arts Presents
(as a culmination of the 8-week Acting Intensive course)
4 one-act plays from "27 Wagons Full of Cotton"
** This Property Is Condemned ** Auto Da Fé ** The Lady of Larkspur Lotion ** Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen
by
Tennessee Williams
They are full of the perception of life as it is, and the passion for life as it ought to be, which have made the plays of Tennessee Williams classics of the American theater. Whether Williams is writing of derelict roomers in a New Orleans boarding house ( The Lady of Larkspur Lotion ) or of delinquent children ( This Property is Condemned ), his insight into human nature is that of the poet. He can compress the basic meaning of life - its pathos or its tragedy, its bravery or the quality of its love-into one small scene or a few moments of dialogue.
Performance VDO: Coming Soon!
PICS:
* Aref in 'THE LADY OF LARKSPUR LOTION'
* Full Show PICS
Media Coverage:
* VDO-Feature on Aref's show by Independent TV channel
* Articles by The Independent (Nov 16, 2011)- PART I & PART II
Date
Shoot,
October 19, 2011
CASTING NEWS: Aref shot for a new short-film!!
"I AM NOT"
(Directed by Abrar Arthar)
More Details: Coming Soon!
Date
Headshot Shoot,
September 19, 2011
UPDATE: New HEADSHOTS!
** Check 'em out !**
Final Headshots: see Gallery OR Facebook
For FULL shoot, see:
Date
Magazine Feature,
August 10, 2011
NEWS: Aref featured in IceToDay Magazine - August 2011 issue!
...Titled: "BREAKING BARRIERS'
Now on Stands.
Click HERE
Date
Shoot, July 22, 2011
Location
Dhaka
BREAKING NEWS: Aref makes his FILM DEBUT !
...Aref just shot for his first-ever feature film - tentatively titled "That Boy" - directed by Samia Zaman.
Pics: Coming soon
Date
Shoot, July 2, 2011
Location
Dhaka
CASTING NEWS : Aref cast in a new tele-play !
"Otopor Moyurakhhi"
Written & Directed by: Rudro Raatish
Picks: HERE
Date
Marketing Update, June 19, 2011
Location
UK
ALERT: Aref @ SPOTLIGHT !
(UK's 'Leading Casting Site for Professional Actors since 1927')
Click HERE
Date
Screening, May 7, 2011
9:30 PM
Location
Tribeca Cinema: Theater 2
New York, NY
Link
NYIFF Schedule
NYIFF-FB Page
FB - Event Page
BREAKING NEWS: N Y P R E M I E R E !
Aref's short film "THE PROFESSIONALS" is selected at the 11th IAAC New York Indian Film Festival!
Buy your TKTS NOW! Click HERE
Disney's (Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Singh starrer) "DO DOONI CHAAR" is the Festival's Opening Night film (on May 4th) which will be attended by the film's Director and Cast.
A total of 25 feature films will screen over the five-day period at the oldest and most prestigious Indian film festival in the country including 15 World and U.S. Premieres. Works by other filmmakers/artistes in this Festival include Uss Paar (Jachie Shroff), 10ml Love (Rajat Kapoor, Purab Kohli), 136 (Ajay Naidu), Iti Mrinalini (Aparna Sen, Konkona Sen Sharma), Geeta in Paradise (Purab Kohli, Zeenat Aman), Yeh Saali Zindagi (Irrfan Khan), A Decent Arrangement (Shabana Azmi), and the Closing Night film - Rituparno Ghosh's 'Noukadubi' (starring Raima Sen, Riya Sen), which is based on the novel 'THE WRECK' by Rabindranath Tagore.
Dozens of actors, directors, and celebrities will descend upon this year's edition of the New York Indian Film Festival and its Red Carpet premieres including Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Habib Faisal, Rituparno Ghosh, and Aparna Sen.
So far THE PROFESSIONALS has been part of the following prestigious international film events:
* 26th Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market (France) in February 2011
* Chicago South Asian Film Festival (USA) in Oct 2010 (screened with Aparna Sen's The Japanese Wife)
* 25th Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (USA) in October 2010
* 18th Raindance Film Festival (UK) in October 2010
Media Coverage:
THE INDEPENDENT (April 24, 2011) - Aref is a "consummate professional who represents his country well as he pursues his dream."
The Daily Star (April 28, 2011)
More Festival Details : Coming Soon
Date
Performance, April 17-22, 2011
CASTING NEWS: Aref is making his TV debut in the new tele-play titled "SHORNOMRIGO" > Written by Kamrul Ahsan > Directed by Mobarak Rumi
PICS : here
Date
Performance, March 10-11, 2011
Location
Independent University of Bangladesh (IUB)
Dhaka
Link
CASTING NEWS: Aref is playing the role of Imaam in Sharbari Ahmed's Off-Broadway Hit -
" RAISINS NOT VIRGINS "
PRIVATE / INDUSTRY Screening of "THE PROFESSIONALS" !
Aref & Team held the first-ever screening of their short film in Dhaka! The event was attended by Chief Guest, (Film Director) Morshedul Islam, and Special Guests (Film Director) Abu Sayeed and (Film Actor/Director/Producer) Film Star Uzzal along with other noted artistes, celebrities and media personalities.
> The Professionals got very positive feedbacks from the audience!
> Noted Film Director Mr. Morshedule Islam praised Aref's performance as "very honest, subtle and sensitive."
For PICS, click here
Check out media coverage on this short film: BanglaNews24 , DailyStar
* BUSY TIMES * 'The Professionals' is part of the 26th Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market 2011 (France)!!
If you haven't seen the Short Film, then check out at the Market ;)
Aref participated in 'THE LIMITS OF THEATRE' workshop conducted by Calixto Bieito!
The Workshop is held within the project of La Biennale di Venezia, Theatre Sector, "International Workshop of Dramatic Arts in Venice" (Artistic Director: Àlex Rigola)
Aref is super excited to be a part of the Workshop 2011!
On Day 1, the Group worked on the monologue by Segismundo in Act I of Life is a Dream by Calderon de la Barca
Then, as part of his creative pieces, Aref performed to -
Edgar Allan Poe's 'A Dream' and 'Change,' and a Bangla folk Tale for Kids of A King and a Queen
Date
Rehearsals, Nov 2010 onwards
Location
Bangladesh
Casting News: Aref is playing the lead role of Malwaal in Mohammed ben Abdallah's 'The Trial of Mallam Ilya.' Produced/Presented by BotTala Theater Space. Directed by Dr. Saleque Khan.
Rehearsals are on!
More details Coming Soon...
Date
Shoot, Oct 2010
Location
London, UK
Aref's New Headshots & Modeling PICS! Oct 2010
* Check out Gallery page
:: One More Biggie::
'The Professionals' Official Selections at 18th Raindance Film Festival (UK),
Oct 2010
Aref is attending in person!
* Check out the PICS
* Fetival VDO Here:
PART 1 : SO IT BEGINS
PART 2 : THE JOURNEY
PART 3 : INTERVIEWS
PART 4 : (not) THE END
* Aref shared his experience on working on this film and attending festivals - for the first time with his own work - with local Press & media. Read the Interview with Oli Dunn / CineTalk
'The Professionals' selected to be part of 25th Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival - FLiFF (USA)
Oct 2010
Finally, all the hard works are paying off. October seems to be the best month! :)
Breaking News >> 'The Professionals' WORLD-PREMIERES @ Chicago South Asian Film Festival (USA)
Oct 2010
Aref's short-film (where he played the lead role of Joshim) is screened right before Aparna Sen's The Japanese Wife with Aparna Sen, Deepti Naval and Rajat Kapur in attendance!
A feat for Aref and the whole Team!
To see pics, click here
View Aref Syed's Photo Galleries
Check out Aref's Acting Resume
Contact Aref Syed