Our IraqOUR IRAQ dismantles caricatures of Iraqis and Muslims in the United States: an Iraqi-American sculptor rebuilds what extremists have destroyed, Muslims pray at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, refugees own a St. Paul neighborhood grocery, and a public school administrator becomes the first Muslim woman to win an election in Minnesota. The short documentary was written and directed by Iraqi refugees in Minnesota as part of a collaborative art lab called Iraqi Voices.
2017/USA/19m/World Premiere
Directors: Amel Al Sammarraie, Jamal Ali
Writers: Amel Al Sammarraie, Ali Alshammaa, Abdullah Flalija, Mohammed Raif, Nathan Fisher
Starring: Jamal Ali, Jessica Belt Saem Eldahr, Northern Monday Films, Iraqi & American Reconciliation Project
Burqa Boxers
In a culture that values beauty, delicacy, refinement and submission as the prized traits to the ultimate feminine career fulfillment, marriage, young Muslim women in Kiddirpur, Kolkata challenge stereotypes, learning boxing with Razia Shabnam one of the first Indian women to become a boxing coach and an international referee. Burqa boxers is the story of Ajmira Khatoon, Taslima Khatoon and Parveen Sajda as the pursue their dreams while negotiating poverty and tradition.
85m/India, France, USA/2016/U.S. Premiere
Director: Alka Raghuram
Writer: Alka Raghuram
Producers: Farid Rezkallah, 24 Images; Alka Raghuram, Junoon Pictures; Deann Borshay Liem, Mu Films; Premalatha Durham
Starring: Razia Shabnam, Ajmira Khatoon, Taslima Khatoon, Parveen Sajda
