Panel discussion on Tuesday:
A panel discussion brought to you by the Media PIC and sponsored by The Shorenstein Center, Harvard University.
A DIFFERENT LENS:
THE ROLE OF DOCUMENTARY FILM & ALTERNATIVE MEDIA IN POLICY AND POLITICS
Tuesday, April 29th at 6pm
Littauer-382
The Kennedy School of Government
Panelists:
Ben Achtenberg
Shamir Allibhai
John Ewing
Laurel Greenberg
Laurel Greenberg is an independent documentary filmmaker whose feature documentaries "94 Years and 1 Nursing Home Later" (1999) and "Trouble in Paradise" (2004) have won awards and been shown in film festivals nationwide and on PBS.
John Ewing is a digital media artist who creates activist public art with an emphasis on community participation. He spent two years in El Salvador using the arts to organize and inspire dialogue about human rights.
Shamir Allibhai is Producer and Director of the broadcast documentary AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis (2008).
Ben Achtenberg, an Oscar-nominated producer and distributor of documentary films related to healthcare, mental health, and aging, is President of Fanlight Productions & Project Director and Producer of Refuge.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Post from a Los Angeles Organizer
Posted as written by Neelam Khoja, organizer of the LA/Claremont Graduate University screening:
It isn’t every day when you meet someone who not only dares to dream, but also dares to make his dream a reality. In November, I met someone who did just that: in high school, Shamir dreamt to make a movie about the Aga Khan and in December he premiered it at the Kennedy School of Government. When I heard about the screening, I asked him if he would consider doing the same here, on the west coast. He agreed, and the very next day I was able to get the President of Claremont Graduate University and the Dean of the School of Religion on board with the California Premiere.
I thought bringing the documentary to Los Angeles, and Claremont specifically, was important because it would allow for an easier articulation of my faith. In my two years at Claremont Graduate University, I was constantly in the spotlight because I was one of first students to enter into and graduate from their MA in Islamic Studies program. I found myself explaining who an Ismaili Muslim was in all of my encounters with people as influential as the Board of Visitors at the President’s house to the camera guy when I was selected as the School of Religion’s “poster girl.” With the exception of a few, most people had never heard of the Ismailis, let alone met one.
After watching the movie, it became evident that this documentary would go beyond simply putting Ismailis on the map because it shows how the Ismailis can be viewed as an example of moderate Muslims who value peace, tolerance, development and most importantly love for humanity. Moreover, it helps to place the Aga Khan among some of the most forward thinking religious leaders, who practices what he preaches and serves as a role model for his followers and anyone else who comes to know him. His dedication to the Ismaili community and humanity at large is well presented, providing a beacon of hope in the tumultuous conditions humankind has faced and continues to struggle with today.
My sincere hope is that more people will find inspiration from both the movie and the person who dreamt to make it. Blazing the trail to resisting against being silenced, Shamir has provided a wonderful opportunity for all of us to learn more about each other, which will hopefully lead to filling the gap of ignorance by continuing the conversation. But it is up to us to do that: first, we must watch the movie, and then encourage others to watch it too. Through this process, hopefully, more people will come to know who the Aga Khan is and who the Ismailis are, thereby alleviating the unawareness of Islam’s rich diversity, interpretations, and expressions.
-Neelam Khoja
It isn’t every day when you meet someone who not only dares to dream, but also dares to make his dream a reality. In November, I met someone who did just that: in high school, Shamir dreamt to make a movie about the Aga Khan and in December he premiered it at the Kennedy School of Government. When I heard about the screening, I asked him if he would consider doing the same here, on the west coast. He agreed, and the very next day I was able to get the President of Claremont Graduate University and the Dean of the School of Religion on board with the California Premiere.
I thought bringing the documentary to Los Angeles, and Claremont specifically, was important because it would allow for an easier articulation of my faith. In my two years at Claremont Graduate University, I was constantly in the spotlight because I was one of first students to enter into and graduate from their MA in Islamic Studies program. I found myself explaining who an Ismaili Muslim was in all of my encounters with people as influential as the Board of Visitors at the President’s house to the camera guy when I was selected as the School of Religion’s “poster girl.” With the exception of a few, most people had never heard of the Ismailis, let alone met one.
After watching the movie, it became evident that this documentary would go beyond simply putting Ismailis on the map because it shows how the Ismailis can be viewed as an example of moderate Muslims who value peace, tolerance, development and most importantly love for humanity. Moreover, it helps to place the Aga Khan among some of the most forward thinking religious leaders, who practices what he preaches and serves as a role model for his followers and anyone else who comes to know him. His dedication to the Ismaili community and humanity at large is well presented, providing a beacon of hope in the tumultuous conditions humankind has faced and continues to struggle with today.
My sincere hope is that more people will find inspiration from both the movie and the person who dreamt to make it. Blazing the trail to resisting against being silenced, Shamir has provided a wonderful opportunity for all of us to learn more about each other, which will hopefully lead to filling the gap of ignorance by continuing the conversation. But it is up to us to do that: first, we must watch the movie, and then encourage others to watch it too. Through this process, hopefully, more people will come to know who the Aga Khan is and who the Ismailis are, thereby alleviating the unawareness of Islam’s rich diversity, interpretations, and expressions.
-Neelam Khoja
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Aga Khan Film - San Fran Screening - Apr 30th!
Dear Supporter
We have been working hard to get AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE seen as far and wide as possible - thank you to all those who have been supporting the cause, buying the DVDs, sharing it with colleagues and friends, and spreading the word.
Stanford University has graciously asked us if they could host a screening of the documentary and has invited us to do a post-film panel discussion. How could we say no? For those of you who live in the area, we would love to see you at the Apr 30th San Francisco screening. See the details below.
Best wishes
Shamir & the Aga Khan Film team
-oOo-
Groundbreaking Islamic Documentary Comes to Stanford for Bay Area Debut
Sponsored by the Office of Religious Life and the Vice Provost of Student Affairs at Stanford University.
April 30th, 2008 – Stanford University – 7pm – Open to public – Tickets: Free with RSVP
AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: The Aga Khan & the Ismailis
At a time when the divides between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds seems to be getting worse, not better, this is a film that must be seen. PLUS: After the film there will be a special panel and Q&A with Shamir Allibhai, Filmmaker & Harvard Master's candidate; and Shazad Bashir, Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Stanford University;
To RSVP for this event, please click here: http://agakhanfilm.eventbrite.com
**Seating is limited. RSVP guarantees you a seat.**
Details:
April 30th, 2008 – 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Annenberg Auditorium, Stanford University
435 Lasuen Mall
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Tickets: FREE to students and general public
Watch the trailer NOW:
http://www.agakhanfilm.org
Share the event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=9966629892
**Seating is limited. RSVP guarantees you a seat.**
Details:
April 30th, 2008 – 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Annenberg Auditorium, Stanford University
435 Lasuen Mall
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Tickets: FREE to students and general public
Watch the trailer NOW:
http://www.agakhanfilm.org
Share the event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=9966629892
To purchase the DVDs:
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