American Islamic Congress Announces Boston Muslim Film Festival: 'Art under Fire'

American Islamic Congress Announces Boston Muslim Film Festival: 'Art under Fire'

BOSTON, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Islamic Congress (AIC) has announced the fall edition of the Boston Muslim Film Festival, which runs from October 13-21 and features films from across the Muslim world highlighting "Art under Fire" (complete details at www.MuslimFilm.org)

"Muslim cultures have produced legendary works of art, from the mosaics of Marrakesh to the Taj Mahal," explained Nasser Weddady, AIC's Civil Rights Outreach Director. "Yet today censorship and radicalism constrain many Muslim artists around the world. Our festival explores how musicians, filmmakers, and even comedians are struggling to respond."

One highlight is the award-winning Egyptian film "Dunia" - nominated for a grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival - which tells the moving story of a poet and dancer who suffers from the effects of female genital mutilation.

The festival, which premiers at Harvard Square's legendary Brattle Theatre, features live performances in conjunction with each film to heighten the artistic theme. Following the screening of "Democracy in Dakar," for instance, Senegalese hip-hop artists featured in the film will perform and then lead an audience discussion.

"This is an opportunity to see a side of the Muslim world we rarely hear about on the news," observed Weddady. "Hopefully these films will inspire Bostonians of all backgrounds to appreciate art's preciousness as well as the layered diversity of the Muslim world."

Boston-native Tissa Hami, a featured comedian in "Stand Up" (winner of CINE Golden Eagle Award), will perform following a screening of this documentary on Muslim-American comics.

"We see the Boston Muslim Film Festival as a new way for the general public to explore Muslim cultures and identities in a civic and artistic context," said Weddady. "The festival is free and open to people of all backgrounds."

Screening will be held at the Brattle Theatre, Boston Public Library, Harvard, Boston University, Northeastern, and MIT. Co-sponsors include the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, the Global Film Initiative, Facing History & Ourselves, Americans for Informed Democracy, BU's Women Studies Program, Barakat, and AIC's student-led campus initiative Project Nur.

The American Islamic Congress (www.aicongress.org) is a civil-rights organization promoting tolerance and the exchange of ideas among Muslims and between other peoples. With the motto "passionate about moderation," the organization leads initiatives around the world and has offices in Washington, Boston, Egypt and Iran.

CONTACT: Marie Gagnon of the American Islamic Congress, +1-617-266-0080

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Source: American Islamic Congress

CONTACT: Marie Gagnon of the American Islamic Congress, +1-617-266-0080,
www.MuslimFilm.org

Web Site: http://www.aicongress.org/
http://www.muslimfilm.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment