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Screenings accompanied by live performances from
Azar Nafisi, Dean Obeidallah, and other artists
WASHINGTON, DC - The American Islamic Congress (AIC) announces the second annual DC Muslim Film Festival with movies from across the Muslim world highlighting “Art under Fire.” Screenings at five local universities are being organized by AIC’s campus initiative, Project Nur, and run between February 13th-March 12th (complete details, including film descriptions, at: www.MuslimFilm.org).
“Muslim societies have produced legendary artwork, from the mosaics of Marrakesh to the Taj Mahal,” said Zainab Al-Suwaij, AIC’s Executive Director. “Yet censorship and intimidation confront many modern Muslim artists around the world. Our festival explores how beautiful art can emerge from the struggle for free expression.”
Award-winning films included in the festival profile Egyptian dancers, underground Iranian musicians, US comedians, Indian warriors, etc. Each screening is accompanied by a live performance, featuring prominent artists like Azar Nafisi, author of the national bestseller Reading Lolita in Tehran, and award-winning comedian Dean Obeidallah, who appeared on Comedy Central’s “Axis of Evil” Comedy Tour.
“Student activists are bringing these multi-faceted voices to campus as a dynamic way to explore contemporary Muslim identity,” said Shabana Stationwala, AIC’s Project Nur Director. “Like the films themselves, Project Nur student coordinators embody the pluralism of the Muslim community. We intend to spotlight the intellectual and cultural diversity of the Muslim world.” Venues include: Georgetown University, American University, George Washington University, George Mason University, and the University of Maryland.
“My parents come from the Florida Panhandle and Pakistan,” noted Celina Kurani, an undergraduate at American University and coordinator of the Project Nur chapter there. “Bringing Dean Obeidallah, who has his own unique hybrid heritage, to perform in conjunction with the film Stand Up (in which he is featured) will spotlight our community’s complex internal diversity for the general American public. Plus, we get to do it all through the lens of humor.”
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 has offices in Washington, Boston, Egypt, and Iraq. Its campus initiative, Project Nur, advances Muslim civic identity grounded in pluralism and personified by a multicultural student community.
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