From the transatlantic slave trade in the 16th century to the conquest and subjugation of indigenous people in the 19th century to current race riots in major urban cities, the ideological pattern of intolerance, bigotry and prejudice has been omnipresent throughout history.

This film depicts the representation of what appears to be ordinary men persecuted by police and society, men who are later revealed to be angels on earth. Inspired by the paintings of Caravaggio, Peter Paul Rubens, and conflicts during the civil rights movement, “Station 13” follows the blows of extraordinarily public transgressions where brutality and injustice lead the charge.

The visceral black-and-white narrative unfolds in a series of portraits of violence, emotion, rage and shock, amplifying moments of action and sentiment. The piece culminates in a powerful finale where an angel’s suffering at the hands of police shines a light on the cycle of confrontation of civil liberties and systemic racism. There may have been some advancements over time, but underlying discrimination still thrives in some corners of society. That unsettling truth is what makes this piece so evocative and relevant. It’s about humanity’s ignorance and the fear of the unknown, which in turn acts as a powerful statement against prejudice.

The film is set to “Station 13” by Indochine, a French rock and new wave band formed in Paris in 1981. The band has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, making them the best-selling French band of the last thirty years. Music videos and art have always been at the heart of the group’s visual universe, marked by a long history of collaborations with critically acclaimed film directors, including Xavier Dolan (The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, It’s Only the End of the World, Mommy), Marc Caro (Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children), Jaco Van Dormael (Mr. Nobody, The Brand New Testament), Asia Argento (Scarlet Diva), and contemporary artists including photographers Richard Kern and Erwin Olaf. “Station 13”, from the band’s recently released thirteenth album, is directed by award-winning, London-based filmmaker Bouha Kazmi.

In the last few years, Bouha has been nominated at the prestigious Shots Awards for Best New Director, and received two consecutive nominations for the Young Director Award at the Cannes Lions. His work has won Best Music Video at the LA Shorts Fest and Miami Short Film Festival. He spearheaded Zayn Malik’s striking debut music video “Pillowtalk,” featuring model Gigi Hadid. The video racked up 820+ million views, was nominated at the MTV Music Video Awards and the BRIT Awards (Video of the Year), and featured in over fifty trades including Rolling Stone, Time, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Guardian, The Harvard Crimson, Vogue, Vanity Fair, and GQ. His short film work has featured as part of the Official Selection at fourteen films festivals worldwide, including Raindance Film Festival, London Short Film Festival, and Aesthetica Short Film Festival.

A combined passion for narrative and Visual Effects has enabled Bouha to create varied projects rich in both substance and vision. His expertise for crafting innovative and emotive cinematic work spans across a variety of platforms, including music videos, commercials, and short film. As a director, he is represented by London Alley, Independent and Indy8.

Indochine - Station 13

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