Muslim Film Festival to Kick Off in Milwaukee on October 17
The festival comes to the Oriental Theater with award-winning films about Muslims in our time—including a documentary chronicling a hate crime survivor’s healing journey to forgiveness, a reality TV-style documentary that puts four survivors of different wars together to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and an upbeat fantasy animation about a six-year-old girl who flees Aleppo, Syria, with her grandparents to a new world.
It also features several hard-hitting journalism features. One raises questions about the role of Evangelical Christianity in American politics and foreign policy. Another takes an in-depth look at attacks on civilians by the Israeli regime’s military in the Gaza Strip and the United States’ role in the now year-long Israeli aggression.
Each screening will be followed by discussions with film producers, directors or others with real-life experience in the issues explored.
The curated collection of eight films “transcend countries, languages and cultures while highlighting the humanity of all races, ethnicities and religious beliefs,” said a statement released Wednesday from the festival organizers. The four-day event is presented by the Muslim Women’s Coalition and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
Ticket prices are $13 for adults; $11 for seniors, students and educators with ID; and $7 for children 12 years old and under.
With this year’s Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival, the Muslim Women’s Coalition unveils a significant rebranding and launches its Connecting Hearts, Strengthening Communities public relations campaign.
In its rebranding, the former “Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition” drops “Milwaukee” and becomes the “Muslim Women’s Coalition” and reveals a new logo.
“The updated name reflects the coalition’s broader reach,” says Janan Najeeb, Executive Director of MWC and founder of the Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival. “We have built a strong legacy under the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition. But our work now spans throughout the state and region, so it’s time our name reflects our growth.”
Yet, its mission has not changed, Najeeb said. Since its founding in 1994, the MWC has advocated for religious tolerance and women’s empowerment. The Milwaukee-based non-profit “is dedicated to fostering mutual respect and understanding through education about Islam while supporting the personal and professional development of Muslim women,” said Wednesday’s press release. The film festival is a cornerstone of MWC’s outreach.
Its Connecting Hearts, Strengthening Communities multi-media campaign features positive, empowering images of Muslim women and girls that will appear across Milwaukee following the film festival. Funded by a United Way Racial Equity Fund grant, this multi-format initiative seeks to uplift the voices of thriving Muslim women and girls through social media, billboards, radio, print, and digital ads.
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“Focused on combating negative stereotypes, the campaign will showcase positive and vibrant images of diverse Muslim women and girls, both hijab and non-hijab-wearing, encouraging the community to view Muslim women as vital contributors to Milwaukee’s diverse and vibrant social fabric,” the press release said.
“Muslim women deserve to be seen as the strong, dynamic individuals they are,” said Najeeb. “Our campaign seeks to reshape how Muslim women and girls are portrayed, helping to build a community where everyone is respected and valued.”
Source: wisconsinmuslimjournal.org
