Muslim Film Festival

2008 MUSLIM FILM FESTIVAL: "THINK-DIFFERENT" WOMEN
Presented by the American Islamic Congress

WHEN:
April 14–30, 2008

WHERE:
Different locations, including Boston University, Endicott College, Tufts University and Northeastern University.
Check online film schedule.

FILM SCHEDULE and WEB SITE: muslimfilm.org/schedule.html

FILM SCHEDULE:

April 13 - 7:00 p.m.

Darfur Now

Northeastern University - 200 Richards Hall

(360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA)

A story of hope in the midst of one of humanity's darkest hours – a
call to action to stop genocide in Darfur. This documentary explores
the Darfur conflict through the first-hand experiences of award-winning
actor Don Cheadle, Hejewa Adam, Pablo Recalde, Ahmed Mohammed Abakar,
Luis Moreno-Ocampo and Adam Sterling.
Presented in conjunction with
Northeastern University STAND, the screening includes food &
drinks, giveaways, and a Q+A session.

April 14 - 6:30 p.m.
Faith Without Fear
Boston University - College of Arts & Sciences, Room 522
(725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA)
One of the most prominent “think-different” Muslim women today is Irshad Manji. This film follows Manji as she wrestles with her identity while traveling the world, from discussions in Yemen with a former Bin Laden bodyguard, to a search in Spain for the ancient tradition of ijtihad (open debate), to conversations with her own mother.
Raquel Evita Saraswati from Project Ijtihad will lead a discussion after the screening.

April 15 - 6:30 p.m.
Sand and Sorrow
Boston University - College of Arts & Sciences, Room 326
(725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA)
In the defining human rights crisis of our day, women are on the frontlines. This documentary on Darfur spotlights female survivors of brutal militia raids, as well as women leaders trying to help them rebuild their lives.
Narrated by George Clooney and featuring appearances by Elie Wiesel and Barack Obama.

April 16 - 6:30 p.m.
Shadya
Boston University - College of Arts & Sciences, Room 313
(725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA)
Like many 17-year-old girls, Shadya Zoabi enjoys listening to music and hanging out with friends. But Shadya is also a world champion in karate, a feminist in a male-dominated culture, and a Muslim Arab living in the Galilee. A moving portrait of an independent young woman coming of age, the film follows Shadya as she marries and attempts to navigate the social expectations of her husband’s family.

April 17 - 6:30 p.m.
Mrs. President: Women and Political Leadership in Iran
Boston University - College of Arts & Sciences, Room 326
(725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA)
In the summer of 2001, 47 Iranian women registered as candidates for president – only to be disqualified by the Guardian Council of clerics that rule Iran. This documentary profiles six dynamic candidates who agreed to be interviewed on camera, along with commentary from journalists and some of the women’s husbands. 
Shahla Haeri, director of Boston University’s women’s studies program, will speak after the screening.

April 18 - 6:30 p.m.
The Fish Fall in Love
Boston University - College of Arts & Sciences, Room 522
(725 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA)
Atieh is passionate about food and runs her small restaurant on the sleepy Caspian coast with great pride. But when Aziz, a former lover, appears after a 20-year absence, he announces his intention to close her restaurant. Atieh prepares his favorite dishes, one after the other, in a desperate effort to change his mind. Loosely based on A Thousand and One Nights, the film uses the language of food to portray life in southern Iran.

April 22 - 6:30 p.m.
The Enemies of Happiness
Tufts University - Cabot International Center (Fletcher School), Room 206
(170 Packard Ave., Medford, MA)
Malalai Joya is a 28 year-old Afghan woman who decides to run for a seat in the National Assembly. It is the first democratic parliamentary election in Afghanistan in over 30 years, and Joya’s campaign challenges traditional views of female representation in Afghani politics. The film follows Joya's campaigns despite several death threats and four attempts on her life.

April 23 - 7:00 p.m.
Le Cerf Volant (The Kite)
Endicott College - location TBD
Lamia must cross a checkpoint between Lebanon and Israel to marry a man she has never met. But neither she nor her betrothed are eager to consummate a marriage to a stranger - a matter further complicated by Lamia's admission that she loves an Israeli Arab soldier at the checkpoint. This drama crosses boundaries and depicts a young woman straddling many worlds.
Mohammed Harba, curator of the Film Festival, will speak following the screening.

April 30 - 6:30 p.m.
Adieu Meres (Goodbye Mothers)
Boston University - location TBD
Fatima and Ruth work together at an insurance company in 1960 Casablanca. Childless Fatima serves as a surrogate mother for Ruth’s children Avi and Aida; their husbands, Brahim and Henri, are close friends. This intimate Muslim-Jewish coexistence, however, is rapidly unraveling, as families and individuals must make fateful choices about their future. Followed by a party for the holiday of Mimouna, which Moroccan Jews and Muslims celebrate together at the end of Passover.

IMAGE BELOW from film Web site:
George Clooney narrated "Sand and Sorrow," which screens on April 15, 6:30 p.m., at Boston University. Elie Wiesel and Barack Obama appear in the film, which challenges viewers to act now to stop genocide.