​The Third Mind invites you and your family into the dreamy world of The Glassworker, a hand drawn masterpiece from the mind of Usman Riaz.

​For one night only, The Glassworker returns to the big screen for an exclusive screening, followed by a conversation with the Director Usman Riaz and Art Director Mariam Riaz Paracha. 

​Crafted over a decade-long journey, Riaz and Paracha created the first hand-drawn animation studio in Pakistan, Mano Animation Studios, and subsequently brought their feature-length film to life. With countless global collaborators, the film was met with high praise, becoming Pakistan’s official submission for the Oscars. It not only broke records but helped lay the foundation for hand-drawn animation as a living art form in Pakistan, a daunting task that Riaz and his team met with awe-inspiring tenacity.

​Film Synopsis

​​In a town divided by duty and class, Vincent, a glassmaker’s son, and Alliz, a violinist and the colonel’s daughter, find an unexpected friendship and fall in love. As their bond grows, rising tensions between their families and a looming war threaten to pull them apart. 

​​Brought to life through incredible hand-drawn animation, The Glassworker is a poetic tale of first love, family, the price of staying true to your art, and the cost of war. The film features the voices of Art Malik, Sacha Dhawan, Anjli Mohindra and Tony Jayawardena.

​Trailer

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​Meet the Speaker(s):

​Usman Riaz & Mariam Riaz Paracha

​​Long before The Glassworker, animation was a quiet passion for Usman as he pursued music. A prodigious talent, he received a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music and became known publicly for his unique style of playing the guitar.

​​He went on to become the youngest TED Senior Fellow, sharing his work with audiences around the world. On a serendipitous trip to Japan to speak at TEDxJapan, Usman spoke about his love for hand-drawn animation and fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting the acclaimed Studio Ghibli. He left with a message that would shape the next decade of his life: if this film was to exist, he would have to build the world for it himself.

​​Alongside him on that journey is Mariam Riaz Paracha, an artist and visual storyteller whose work has been central to the world of The Glassworker. As Art Director on the film, Mariam helped shape its visual language from the ground up, building a universe defined by light, texture and emotional detail. Trained in fine art and illustration, her practice moves between the intimate and the cinematic, grounding sweeping ideas in her nostalgic experiences.

​Embarking on this journey the couple has become a beacon of inspiration, creating a space to highlight Pakistan's rich artistic heritage and global potential.

​​Programme

​​6:15 – 6:45 PM
Open salon, food & beverages will be available from some of your favorite snack spots across NYC

​​6:45 – 7:00 PM
Film Introduction by Special Guest

​​7:00 – 8:45 PM
Film Screening

​​8:45 – 9:30 PM
Panel Discussion with Usman Riaz & Mariam Riaz Paracha

​​9:30 – 9:45 PM
Audience Q&A

​​Practical Details

​​Date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026
Time: 6:15 - 9:45pm
Ticket Purchase Required: Limited capacity — reserve your ticket early! NO tickets will be sold at the door for this event.

​​Disclaimer: By attending this event, you consent to being photographed and recorded. Images and video may be used by The Third Mind for marketing, promotional, and archival purposes across digital and print channels. You also consent to receiving marketing communications from us in the future, which you may unsubscribe from at any time. All ticket sales are final.