tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20840492739230500952024-03-05T06:05:43.571-05:00The Aga Khan and the Ismailis - Filmmaker's BlogThe story of the Aga Khan and the Ismailis. Who are they and how did they come to be? And what do they have to say in this ever-divided world?
Shamir Allibhai's journey with AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis. Film website: http://www.agakhanfilm.orgShamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-33728710531608599622010-02-07T18:27:00.002-05:002010-02-07T18:32:26.696-05:00Article from Melbourne<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/S29Mlf6yEQI/AAAAAAAAAxg/VmqzNeEEixA/s1600-h/indus+age.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/S29Mlf6yEQI/AAAAAAAAAxg/VmqzNeEEixA/s400/indus+age.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435647482366398722" border="0" /></a><br />I will try and get a legible digital file soon so we can read the article but I am told it is a positive one.<br /><br />I am also told where the article headline reads "Man of Peace in the Land of War" it does not refer to me going to Melbourne. :)Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-18740978446866602132009-12-10T00:05:00.003-05:002009-12-10T01:49:48.450-05:00Screening Melbourne @ Parliament of the World's Religions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SyCB7zu-JcI/AAAAAAAAAw8/cGawt8uQL8o/s1600-h/IMG_0093.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SyCB7zu-JcI/AAAAAAAAAw8/cGawt8uQL8o/s400/IMG_0093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413469616598820290" border="0" /></a><br />There were so many events going at the Parliament of the World's Religions that I wondered whether the turnout would be good...but all was fine with the room almost completely filled.<br /><br />It was a mostly non-Ismaili crowd and they asked some good and insightful questions. There seemed to a large number of questions around succession. I think the questioners were concerned that this good leader the Aga Khan must be followed by an equally good or better leader to continue helping the Ismailis play a positive force in the world. I agree.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SyCB7RIbo4I/AAAAAAAAAw0/35gHTcv_3bY/s1600-h/IMG_0090.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SyCB7RIbo4I/AAAAAAAAAw0/35gHTcv_3bY/s400/IMG_0090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413469607310369666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SyCB6xFhXjI/AAAAAAAAAws/cyJ6kYu3af0/s1600-h/DSC_0447.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SyCB6xFhXjI/AAAAAAAAAws/cyJ6kYu3af0/s400/DSC_0447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413469598708227634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Me (in the middle) and Hussein Rashid (on my immediate left) with Ismailis from the local Melbourne community.<br /></div>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-85980123124861959822009-12-03T12:35:00.007-05:002009-12-05T20:17:42.418-05:002-year anniversary and an Australian PremiereI am packing to head off to Australia for a screening in Melbourne and I just realized that today is the two-year anniversary of the Aga Khan Film's launch. Time has flown by quickly and I feel a sense of gratitude that the film is still being requested to be shown. But there is also a sense of concern that Islam is increasingly being juxtaposed against peace and tolerance, such as the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/world/europe/30swiss.html">Swiss ban</a> on the building of new minarets. Within the Ummah and externally, there is a lot more work to be done...<br /><br />Australia Screening Details:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/">Parliament of the World's Religions</a><br /><a href="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/">http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/</a><br />Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis (61 mins)</span><br /><br />Sun 6 Dec 4:30 - 6:00pm<br />Room 107<br />Followed by a Q+A<br /><br />I will also be on a panel discussion 2 days later:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Changing the Conversation about Islam and Muslims Through Film: Shia, Puerto Rican-American and Australian Voices </span><br />With: Shamir Allibhai, Dr Pamela Ryan, Macky Alston, Hussein Rashid (Chair)<br />Tue 8 Dec 2:30 - 4:00pm<br />Room 106<br /><br /><br /><br />About the Parliament:<br />(from their <a href="http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/index.cfm?n=1&sn=1">website</a>)<br />The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions was created to cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world.<br />To accomplish this, we invite individuals and communities who are equally invested in attaining this goal.<br /><br /><!--EndFragment-->Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-33094631537858701412009-06-11T00:08:00.001-04:002009-06-11T00:11:22.956-04:00Old photo of the Aga Khan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SjCDRZT2fiI/AAAAAAAAAwI/DLgXq6iInbc/s1600-h/AK+Photo+Syria+31.July+1959.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SjCDRZT2fiI/AAAAAAAAAwI/DLgXq6iInbc/s400/AK+Photo+Syria+31.July+1959.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345917092563942946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Photo sent to me by Abdul Hamid of Lebanon: </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />His Highness the Aga Khan while in Syria dated 31st July 1959 wearing the Arabic "EGAL".</span>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-79023814569631707692009-05-11T12:31:00.001-04:002009-05-11T12:32:40.774-04:00Thoughts from a Toronto-screening audience memberThoughts on the Film:<br />When I first watched the documentary on VisionTV (Canada's multifaith TV Channel), my first reaction was alarming and thought that this would create a lot of stir among people who are against the thoughts of Ismailis. Especially since the commentator states a lot about how Ismailis pray privately and without veils and divides of men & women. The reality is that this documentary is meant to educate everyone out there about a sect of Islam that has and is a sample of true Islam.<br /><br />The movie also takes away the misconceptions (if any) regarding the sect that Aga Khan leads as the spiritual leader. There is a logical-systematic flow in the movie which also opens the minds of Ismailis themselves. I have been discussing the movie (piece by piece with my family, Ismaili friends, and Muslim and non-Muslim friends) and sharing my learnings that were triggered after watching this movie.<div class="im"><br /><br />The Journey since its first release:<br /></div>I then bought the DVDs and watched it with an 'outside-the-box' mindset and taking my being as an Ismaili identity out of my thoughts. I then realized that this documentary was made with intent to create dialogue and discussions. It tries to show how one of the sects of Islam is and how it has positioned itself. The facts are shared and stated. It is up to the viewers to delve deep, engage with it, and search for more knowledge.<br /><br />My Wish & Hope:<br />Is that we have more of such documentaries with similar format and maybe a 'series' or chapter-by-chapter take on the Ismaili history. I take this current documentary as a synopsis and it gives way to future elaborated versions (era by era) to bring a dialogue of what Islam was and is.<br /><br /><br />-Salim NensiShamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-88051376892279499602009-05-06T12:11:00.002-04:002009-05-06T12:14:53.803-04:00FILM, MUSIC AND MEDIA: Mediums for Political Expression in the Middle East Region<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SgG3HsQtsYI/AAAAAAAAAvo/E440N05duU4/s1600-h/Slingshot_POSTER_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SgG3HsQtsYI/AAAAAAAAAvo/E440N05duU4/s400/Slingshot_POSTER_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332744776551608706" border="0" /></a><br /><b>For those who live in Boston:<br /><br /><br /><br />FILM, MUSIC AND MEDIA:<br />Mediums for Political Expression in the Middle East Region</b><br /><br /> <b>Thursday, May 7th<br />4:00 – 6:30 PM</b><br /><br /> This public event will feature two documentary film makers, <b>Shamir Allibhai and Jackie Salloum</b>, and a screening of <b><i>SLING SHOT HIP HOP</i></b> (<a href="http://www.slingshothiphop.com/" target="_blank">www.slingshothiphop.com</a>), a documentary on Palestinian Hip Hop artists in the Occupied Territories and Israel. The documentary will serve as a platform for discussion on the role of Hip Hop and film in fostering artistic and social agency, and creating a meaningful bridge between communities in different cultural and political situations. The film offers a window into the role music and media can play to create social networks, address political struggles, and harness technology in the formation of purpose driven cultures of social inquiry.<br /><br /> This event is sponsored by the Outreach Center, Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University & The Middle East Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School.<br /> Co-sponsors: the Society for Arab Students at Harvard, the Pluralism Project, and the Harvard Islamic Society.<br /><br /> <b>Location:<br /></b> CGIS South Building<br /> 1730 Cambridge Street<br /> Ground Floor, Belfer Case Study Room (Room #S020)<br /> Cambridge, MA 02138<br /><br /> <b>Schedule:</b><br /><br /> 4:00 – 4:35 pm Welcome and introduction to film, music and media and forums of political expression<br /> <ul><li><b>Ben Williams</b> (moderator), lecture series manager of the Islam in the West program at Harvard, MTS candidate at Harvard Divinity School.</li><li><b>Shamir Allibhai</b>, producer of An Islamic Conscience: The Aga Khan and the Ismailis, founding member and Commercial Director of the Channel 4 British Documentary Film Foundation.</li><li><b>Jackie Salloum</b>, director of Sling Shot Hip Hop, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival-Documentary Competition.</li></ul> <br /> 4:35 – 6:00 pm Screening of <i>SLING SHOT HIP HOP</i><br /><br /> 6:00 – 6:30 pm Discussion of the film <br /><br /> *Refreshments will be served<br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><i><span style=";font-family:Arial;" >** This event is sponsored by the Outreach Center, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the Middle East Initiative and the </span></i></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Initiative on Contemporary State and Society in the Islamic World </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><i><span style=";font-family:Arial;" >at the Harvard Kennedy School<br /></span></i></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><i><span style=";font-family:Arial;" >Cosponsored by The Pluralism Project, Harvard Islamic Society</span></i></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><i><span style=";font-family:Arial;" >and the Society for Arab Students, Harvard University</span></i></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >.</span></p>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-38625177485766787172009-05-06T03:06:00.003-04:002009-05-06T03:12:39.323-04:00Comments from the Toronto Screening OrganizerPosted as received from Tanya Panjwani, organizer of the Apr 30th, 2009 screening at York University, Toronto, Canada:<br /><br />I still remember the day I heard about The Aga Khan Film, one of only two official documentaries made about His Highness in fifty years of his Imamat. I recall my friends excitedly ordering dvds for their families and friends, watching the film and discussing it amongst themselves, and even hearing about screenings happening all over the world, from Boston to Beirut, Atlanta to Africa. I also remember organizing a gathering of students about a year ago to watch both the 1961 and the recent film, to discuss the progress that has been made in the past fifty years, and to shed light on the Imam’s international recognition, especially in the context of the globalization phenomenon. It was incredible to see the amount of discussion and dialogue that the film sparked, because not only were we bouncing off ideas that were brought up in the film by various academics and members of the Ismaili community, but these ideas branched off into even more interesting discussions. It was then that I realized how powerful a medium film could be in creating awareness about a unique Muslim leader and his community, something that has not been tapped into until this documentary was made.<br /><br />Little did I know that a year after our powerful discussion, Shamir Allibhai himself would grace us with his presence at York University. When I heard that Shamir was interested in premiering the film in Toronto at York University, I leaped at the chance to host the event. I knew that I wanted to share this film with the York community, and Toronto at large. Shamir and I kept in contact for a few weeks to prepare and organize the event, and finally the day arrived. I was surprised at what a great turnout we had, certainly a good mix of age groups, religious communities, and people of a variety of different ethnic backgrounds. Clearly news had spread amongst Ismailis too, because they occupied the majority of the audience, many commuting from all over Toronto to attend the event.<br /><br />Watching the film was an exciting experience to share with such a large crowd, and brought to life many of the lived experiences of the Ismaili community and most of all, the Aga Khan. The best part of the event, though, was the Question and Answer session. I was overwhelmed with the amount of hands that went up when the session began. Professor Zulfikar Hirji, a professor of Anthropology and Islamic Studies here at York University, moderated the questions. People asked a variety of different questions, some thought-provoking and based on His Highness and the Ismaili community, and others about Shamir’s experiences and his personal journey in creating the film.<br /><br />Overall, I believe the event accomplished its goal, which was not to create an all-encompassing idea of who the Aga Khan is or who the Ismailis are. Rather, it scratched the surface of the question, and posed even more questions that caused excitement, positive energy, and interest, sure to be spread even beyond the halls of York University. I remember one non-Muslim student approaching me at the end of the event, who claimed that though she had been studying Islamic studies for some time, she never knew that an Islam such as this existed. She was in awe of how little she was made aware of the Ismaili communities that exist all over the world, and while she knew about it in name, she felt that the film gave her a perspective that was beyond what she had learned in the classroom. This awareness that was being created seemed like only the beginning. While it has been over a year since the film was premiered, its impact is still echoed by countless voices, both Muslim and non-Muslim, in houses, theaters, and school halls all over the world.<br /><br /><br />====<br /><br />Shamir's comments: Thank you very much, humbling and with gratitude. A lovely write-up.Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-2873724212161729462009-05-04T23:59:00.003-04:002009-05-05T00:06:20.323-04:00Aga Khan Film on TV in British Columbia, Canada<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/Sf-7IOyKqOI/AAAAAAAAAvg/_lFzXm3cmDA/s1600-h/tv_vers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/Sf-7IOyKqOI/AAAAAAAAAvg/_lFzXm3cmDA/s400/tv_vers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332186233911814370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The Aga Khan Film, under the title "The Aga Khan: A Voice of Reason" will be airing on the Knowledge Network in British Columbia, Canada in May:<br /><br /><table align="center" border="1" border cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="390" style="color:#d2b0ae;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" bg valign="top" style="color:#d2b0ae;"><span class="episode_text">May 12</span></td> <td align="left" bg valign="top" style="color:#d2b0ae;"> <span class="episode_text">8:00 PM</span></td> <td align="left" bg valign="top" style="color:#d2b0ae;"> <span class="episode_text"><b>The Aga Khan: A Voice of Reason</b> Reveals how this shy and studious young man became one of the world’s most respected spiritual leaders.</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" bg valign="top" style="color:#d2b0ae;"> <span class="episode_text">May 13</span></td> <td align="left" bg valign="top" style="color:#d2b0ae;"> <span class="episode_text">12:00 AM</span></td> <td align="left" bg valign="top" style="color:#d2b0ae;"> <span class="episode_text"><b>The Aga Khan: A Voice of Reason</b> Reveals how this shy and studious young man became one of the world’s most respected spiritual leaders.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><a href="http://tvschedule.knowledgenetwork.ca/knsch/KNSeriesPage.jsp?seriesID=14743003&seriesTitle=theagakhan:avoiceofreason">http://tvschedule.knowledgenetwork.ca/knsch/KNSeriesPage.jsp?seriesID=14743003&seriesTitle=theagakhan:avoiceofreason</a><br /><br />Trailer: <a href="http://tvschedule.knowledgenetwork.ca/knsch/KNSeriesPage.jsp?seriesID=14743003&seriesTitle=theagakhan:avoiceofreason">http://tvschedule.knowledgenetwork.ca/knsch/KNSeriesPage.jsp?seriesID=14743003&seriesTitle=theagakhan:avoiceofreason</a><br /><br /><br />Spread the word please.Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-29113213608849786612009-05-04T18:51:00.003-04:002009-05-04T23:41:21.624-04:00Toronto ScreeningI landed to a cloudy and rainy Toronto on Thursday, the day of the screening. My ride navigated the MapQuest printout in the midst of the chaos of traffic. We arrived 20 minutes late to the screening at York University but once the event got started, all went really well. The film is one hour long and I spent the four hours following answering questions. Yes, FOUR hours. And I write "four" in caps not because it was too much or too long but because it was a pleasant and unexpected surprise of how much enthusiasm, I interpreted, there still is for the film/my journey.<br /><br />It was nice to see quite a few Torontonians who have been key supporters of the film from the outset. Akber Kassim-Lakha came to see the film (he featured in the film as the boy who was being advised by the Aga Khan in 1961). Akber was trying to make it to the world premiere at Harvard in Dec 2007 but an ice storm in Montreal prevented a timely arrival and thus he missed the first screening. This time, he weathered the weather to make it.<br /><br />Some friends from college were also in the audience. It is always nice to have friends from a previous period in your life still standing by you. Distance and age can diminsh a friendship but hopefully not with your closest of closest friends.<br /><br />The crowd was mainly Ismaili students from York but there was still a sizeable number of adults who must have commuted to see the film/Q+A. Dr Zukfikar Hirji, author of the Institute of Ismaili Studies' book the <span style="font-style: italic;">Illustrated History of the Ismailis</span> moderated the Q+A and he fielded many questions such as 'what was the toughest part of my journey', 'how was it to interview the Aga Khan' and 'when is part 2 and part 3 coming out?!' A novel question I got was 'why did we have a Western voice narrate the film?' The answer I gave was because VisionTV, a funding broadcaster and the first channel to play the film on its networks, asked us to but also because the citizens of Western countries were my primary target audience with my premise try to to offer a counterbalance when so many documentaries are coming out in the West showing only violent elements in the Muslim World. This film is also for many other peoples, I said, and that is why we translated the film into 10 languages: so we could reach the widest audience possible.<br /><br />After that moderated Q+A, many people came up to me afterwards to ask new questions or to follow-up on previous ones.<br /><br />I hope the audience enjoyed the event as much as I did!Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-32689862706792080362009-04-29T14:50:00.002-04:002009-04-29T14:51:45.844-04:00Reminder: Aga Khan Film - Toronto Screening - Apr 30th<div class="gmail_quote"><div> <div align="center"><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9379651&msgid=263753&act=I2R1&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank"><img style="width: 358px; height: 474px;" title="" alt="" src="https://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/209738/f3a545c93db03dd8f44a29a5e70bb53b/image/jpeg" border="0" /></a> </div> <div> </div> <div>Dear All</div> <div> </div> <div>At a time when Islam is seen by many as a monolith and often associated with extremism, this is the film that offers a counterbalance showing a pluralistic and tolerant side of the Muslim World through the story and life journey of His Highness the Aga Khan, a descendant of Prophet Muhammad.</div> <div> </div> <div><b>AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE</b> is the first documentary to look at answering <i>who are the Ismailis Muslims? Who is their Imam Aga Khan IV? And how can we bridge the Muslim World - non-Muslim World divide? Are we facing a Clash of Civilizations or are we facing a Clash of Ignorance?</i></div> <div> </div> <div>With exclusive access to the Aga Khan and a rare interview with him, <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9379651&msgid=263753&act=I2R1&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank"><b>AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis</b></a> is the film that needed to be made.</div> <div> </div> <div>Join us at 7PM, Apr 30th at York University (Location: Vari Hall A, York University, Toronto - <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9379651&msgid=263753&act=I2R1&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yorku.ca%2Fweb%2Ffuturestudents%2Fmap%2Fkeele_map.html" target="_blank">See Map Here</a>.) There will also be a post-screening discussion with Producer/Co-Director Shamir Allibhai.</div> <div> </div> <div>Best wishes</div> <div>Aga Khan Film team</div> <div> </div> <div>Watch the trailer: <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9379651&msgid=263753&act=I2R1&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank">http://www.agakhanfilm.org</a><br /> </div> <div>Join us on Twitter: <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9379651&msgid=263753&act=I2R1&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2FtheShamir" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/theShamir</a><br /> Follow the blog: <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9379651&msgid=263753&act=I2R1&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fagakhanfilm.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://agakhanfilm.blogspot.com</a><br /><br /><div><b>AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis</b></div> <div><b><b>Directors: Jane Chablani & Bill Cran<br /></b></b></div> <div><b><b>Producer/Co-Director: Shamir Allibhai</b><br /></b></div> Born into a world of wealth and privilege, the Aga Khan devotes his life to eliminating poverty and inequality. A religious leader who traces his ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad, he struggles to balance the traditional with the modern.<br /><br />For the past five decades, the Aga Khan has been the spiritual leader and Imam of the 15 million Ismaili Muslims in a world that has changed dramatically. From the end of colonialism and the expulsion of the Asians in Uganda to the fall of the Iron Curtain and 9/11, the Aga Khan has struggled for a common humanity in a divided world.<br /><br />At a time when Islam is at odds with itself and with the West, the Aga Khan represents a voice of moderation, speaking out for pluralism and diversity, and promoting dialogue between civilizations.<br /><br />But will he be heard? </div></div></div>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-9547270982238664732009-04-26T12:14:00.007-04:002009-06-15T11:23:22.658-04:00Constantine's Sword: a focus on Christian AntisemitismI was presenting at a Harvard board meeting a few weeks ago and found out about this film, <a href="http://constantinessword.com/">Constantine's Sword</a>, a story on James Carroll, a former Catholic priest on a journey to confront his past and uncover the roots of religiously-inspired violence and war. His search also reveals a growing scandal involving religious infiltration of the U.S. military and the terrible consequences of religion’s influence on America’s foreign policy.<a href="http://constantinessword.com/"> http://constantinessword.com</a><br /><br />I watched it last night and thought it was great. The film looks at antisemitism in Carroll's own tradition, Christianity. A thoughtful, balanced piece that does not shy away from the tragic past and asking the tough questions of the day on this issue.<br /><br />Some memorable quotes:<br /><br />"What planet are you on? If you want to make religion a constructive force in society, religions must begin with a honest admission of those moments when they haven't been a constructive force; when they have been a deconstructive force."<br />Priest John Pawlikowski, President of the International Council of Christians & Jews<br /><br />"What frustrates me to no end is when religious leaders get up and give the impression that religion has always been on the side of good and virtue. It hasn't. Let's be honest."<br />Priest John Pawlikowski, President of the International Council of Christians & Jews<br /><br />"Every religious person has to take responsibility for the way in which their tradition encourages intolerance, suspicion, hatred of the other..."<br />James Carroll, Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at Suffolk University. Carroll’s new book, <em>Practicing Catholic</em>, will be published in the Spring of 2009.<br /><br />These quotes really hit home for me as I thought about my own religion and my own tradition. Not just the past but what is going on today, right now. I also thought how the "other", as Carroll refers to above, is not just people of other religions but often times those within the same religious community but who have "other" views or "other" ways of seeing the same scenario.Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-37825846819499416312009-04-20T17:19:00.002-04:002009-04-20T17:21:00.146-04:00Toronto Screening - Apr 30, 2009!<div align="center"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank"><img style="width: 303px; height: 145px;" src="http://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/209738/ec27c4a8909e5309606bddeb2f934766/image/jpeg" alt="" title="" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div>Dear All</div> <div><br /></div> <div>We are excited to announce that the acclaimed documentary <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank">AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE</a> will be screening in Toronto on April 30, 2009. Please see the details below:</div> <div> </div> <div>Screening: <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank"><strong>AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis</strong></a></div> <div>Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009 - 7PM - 10PM</div> <div>Location: Vari Hall, York University, Toronto - <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yorku.ca%2Fweb%2Ffuturestudents%2Fmap%2Fkeele_map.html" target="_blank">See Map Here</a>.<div class="im"><br />Host: York University Ismaili Students Association</div></div> <div> </div> <div>The film is 1 hour long and there will a post-screening discussion with Filmmaker/Producer Shamir Allibhai.<br /></div> <div> </div> <div>We hope to see you there!</div> <div> </div> <div>Aga Khan Film team</div> <div><img src="http://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/209738/b72de496471f5fbbad0bb1bd24f15034/image/jpeg" alt="" title="" height="90" width="120" /> </div> <div><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org%2Fbuy_now.asp" target="_blank">Buy the DVD</a></div> <div><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fagakhanfilm.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Follow the Blog</a><br /></div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div><strong>AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE</strong></div> Born into a world of wealth and privilege, the Aga Khan devotes his life to eliminating poverty and inequality. A religious leader who traces his ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad, he struggles to balance the traditional with the modern.<br /><br />For the past five decades, the Aga Khan has been the spiritual leader and Imam of the 15 million Ismaili Muslims in a world that has changed dramatically. From the end of colonialism and the expulsion of the Asians in Uganda to the fall of the Iron Curtain and 9/11, the Aga Khan has struggled for a common humanity in a divided world.<br /><br />Securing a rare and exclusive interview with the Aga Khan in the year of his Golden Jubilee, Bill Cran (multiple Emmy-award winning Director) and Shamir Allibhai have completed a two-year passion project to make the first documentary on the Aga Khan in over forty-five years.<br /><br />At a time when Islam is at odds with itself and with the West, the Aga Khan represents a voice of moderation, speaking out for pluralism and diversity, and promoting dialogue between civilizations.<br /><br />But will he be heard?Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-77187413677323265452009-02-25T01:59:00.003-05:002009-02-25T03:36:34.622-05:00Atlanta ScreeningYesterdays screening, hosted by the Muslim Students Association at Emory University, was very touching. The audience expressed wonderful words of appreciation and I found their questions thought-provoking and intellectually-curious.<br /><br />I spent two hours after the film screening answering questions during the Q+A and chatting to the audience members plus signing DVDs. Then many of us went for dinner and continued the discuss there.<br /><br />I think what I most felt touched by and grateful for is that this film is still traveling around. Its been well over a year since its release. When I was making the film, I never would have imagined the film to still be screening this long since its original premiere. I am always pleasantly surprised when I get another request for a screening and though the DVD has been circulating widely, especially within the Ismaili community, they still come in full force to support the endeavour.<br /><br />It has been such a privilege to meet so many people and hear if and how the film has touched them, or provided them new insights. When I was in the DR Congo last fall for a premiere, one Ismaili said to me, "You have given me an identity (with the film), thank you." I corrected him saying he always had an identity but maybe, the film helped him articulate it further. His point and where he was coming from was not lost besides the emotions and feelings he was trying to convey to me through his powerful words.<br /><br />Yesterday, undergrads told me how when they first got the DVD they analyzed each aspect of the documentary, discussing and debating it for hours into the early morning (as Heena mentions in the previous post). What a compliment.<br /><br />It has been a privilege to make the film, absolutely. And when I was making the film I would watch and observe, for example, the Sunni cameramen/sound men or the Christian local producer or even the Muslim driver, who never had a chance to go to school, and how they would be so engrossed in the interviews I was conducting. They were being exposed to a community, the Ismailis, which they never had heard about or knew very little about. In the locations I was taking them to to disect a story they would take great interest in what was going on. Why would the driver be right there at all the interviews and then ask me followup questions once we stopped filming?<br /><br />Who is the Aga Khan? What is the Shia theology? What is the AKDN? Why are they building a multi-million dollar park in Cairo if there are no Ismailis there? And the questions would just keep coming. A dialogue on a very small scale had begun. My objective was clearly only about pursuing the making of this film at that time. The positive exposure the local team were getting was unexpected and I took comfort in these inadvertent side benefits that even if this film doesn't ever get broad exposure, the process has been positive to those around me (I hoped). Change had been created, albeit, very small. Is this something you tell yourself to keep up motivation and enthusiasm when documentary making gets tough? Maybe. But I solidified my thinking on the belief that it wasn't just about "B": it was about getting from "A" to "B".<br /><br />If "B" is making the film and screening it a number of times, then we have come close to achieving this but it has been everything to try and get to "B", and the participation of so many to help get to "B", which I feel most moved by. This journey includes the thousands of people I have met and the conversations I have had with them - Muslims and non-Muslims alike. To hear their questions about the film, their concerns on the divides, their hopes for peace - and all through their specific lens tinted by culture, religion, geography.<br /><br />A real pleasure and privilege this journey has been for me and for all the gratitude I have been shown by audiences, it is I who, too, am grateful to you and them.<br /><br />Yesterday someone commented, "You must have seen this film hundreds of times by now." Yes, its kind of like a high-class problem. That is, if it is a problem for one, it is a good problem to have! (I personally dont have issue with watching the film - biased / obsessed I clearly am!)<br /><br />And time and time again, story after story, response after response, I can't help but reflect on what Prophet Isa / Jesus said: From everyone who has been given much, much will be required. (Luke 12:48).<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-50024860417734869662009-02-24T23:53:00.000-05:002009-02-24T23:54:58.952-05:00Comments From Atlanta Screening HostI encountered this movie last year around the Golden Jubilee darbar time in America. A few friends (Ismaili and nonIsmaili both) and I had gotten together to watch the documentary as we had seen some things about it on Facebook. We of course have now watched this film a multiple times, but that first time we sat down to see it, we paused about 5 minutes into the movie and basically just tried to take in the captivating scene of the Tajik mountain scenes: it was truly breathtaking. We continued to watch but paused every 15-20 minutes to - believe it or not - analyze the movie scenes and discuss it in depth. Imagine, a group of college students who could be doing anything else in the world were sitting in our free time not only watching this movie but discussing our views and religious opinions. That first sitting lasted 6 hours!!! It is a great film and we watched it many times after (of course not always discussing it for that long!!)<br /><br /> A few months later when my arabic professor sent a message to us about the Aga Khan and the Ismailis being screened in Lebanon, I got really excited! I asked her where she had heard about this and she said Shamir was a student of hers in Lebanon. I got his contact information from her and ever since had been trying to get a film screening here at Emory University. When the MSA was planning Islam Awareness Month, I found my medium to bring Shamir and his film here!<br /><br /> With many events during the month of February, this film screening and Q&A was one of the most successful event and with one of the greatest turnouts. We had about 80 people come out to the event and actively participate in the Q&A. Students, Faculty, members of the Atlanta community and fellow Ismailis came out to view this film and afterwards were very impressed with the event as a whole. Students who had never seen the film or knew much about Ismailis, were in awe of the community and were very grateful that Shamir had come out to answer questions because it provided them with a first hand response from the producer who was present in the making. The founder of our Emory MSA, Isam Vaid, also had a few thoughts about the event: he was excited to finally see the plurality of our Muslim population and see the different faces of Islam present. Overall, this screening was a positive initiative for Emory's campus and I hope to have Shamir do other screenings (perhaps in Dallas my hometown!!!)<br /><br /><br />Heena Jiwani<br />Emory University<br />Goizueta Business School<br />BBA<br />Religious StudiesShamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-7729019495053033952009-02-24T14:15:00.000-05:002009-02-24T14:16:28.886-05:00Aga Khan Film continues in theatres in Geneva!Daily at 16.30 at Cinema Bio Geneve Carouge - film will also go on next week so already week 5!<br /><br />Cinema Bio Genève Carouge, Rue St-Joseph 47 1227 Carouge 022.301.54.43<br /><br /> The Aga Khan<br /><br />and the Ismailis<br /><br />Un film documentaire de William Cran<br /><br />(VO sous-titrée en français. Age légal/suggéré : 16/16)<br /><br /><br /><br />Descendant direct du prophète Mahomet, le prince Karim Aga Khan IV est le 49e Imam, chef spirituel des 15 à 30 millions d'Ismaélites dans le monde.<br /><br />En tant que membre de conseils d'administration d'établissements financiers, de sociétés de médias, de mines de pierres précieuses, de lignes aériennes ou encore d'hôtels, il a fondé le Réseau de Développement Aga Khan, la plus grande oeuvre de bienfaisance privée qui, entre autres, a versé plus de 80 millions de dollars pour aider à reconstruire l'Afghanistan après la guerre.<br /><br />Ce documentaire constitué de d'images inédites dresse le portrait d'un homme respecté par la communauté internationale, prêchant tolérance et pacifisme, en contraste avec les interprétations autrement plus extrémistes du Coran que prônent d'autres courants islamiques.Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-986339525774122632009-02-17T23:22:00.002-05:002009-02-17T23:24:09.227-05:00Aga Khan Film Screening - Atlanta - Feb 23<div>Dear all</div> <div> </div> <div>Our film, <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9386965&msgid=250881&act=48WX&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank">AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis</a>, will be screening in Atlanta at 6PM on Monday, Feb 23rd at Emory University (White Hall 207) as part of Islam Awareness Month. Please join us for the free screening and Q+A.</div> <div> </div> <div>Best wishes</div> <div>Shamir & the Aga Khan Film team</div> <div> </div> <div>Trailer: <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9386965&msgid=250881&act=48WX&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank">http://www.agakhanfilm.org</a></div> <div>Buy the DVD: <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9386965&msgid=250881&act=48WX&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org%2Fbuy_now.asp" target="_blank">http://www.agakhanfilm.org/<wbr>buy_now.asp</a></div> <div>Blog: <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9386965&msgid=250881&act=48WX&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fagakhanfilm.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://agakhanfilm.blogspot.<wbr>com </a><br /></div> <div> </div> <div align="center"><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9386965&msgid=250881&act=48WX&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank"><img style="width: 430px; height: 395px;" src="http://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/209738/2feaffed579b676e6f5124c84c3f5dbb/image/jpeg" alt="" title="" border="0" /></a> </div> <div> </div> Born into a world of wealth and privilege, he devotes his life to eliminating poverty and inequality. A religious leader who traces his ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad, he struggles to balance the traditional with the modern. <p>For the past five decades, the Aga Khan has been the spiritual leader and Imam of the 15 million Ismaili Muslims in a world that has changed dramatically. From the end of colonialism and the expulsion of the Asians in Uganda to the fall of the Iron Curtain and 9/11, the Aga Khan has struggled for a common humanity in a divided world.</p> <div>At a time when Islam is at odds with itself and with the West, the Aga Khan represents a voice of moderation, speaking out for pluralism and diversity, and promoting dialogue between civilizations. But will he be heard?</div>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-42414733411783699422009-01-21T21:24:00.002-05:002009-01-21T21:26:26.497-05:00Aga Khan Film - PARIS PREMIERE - JAN 29th<div class="Ih2E3d"> <div>Dear Supporter</div> <div> </div> <div> <div align="left">We will be premiering the <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank">Aga Khan Film</a> in Paris at the famous Institut du monde arabe!<br /><br /><div align="center"><img title="" alt="" src="http://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/209738/0f19742836d67f07a1050c8a2592ab39/image/jpeg" height="336" width="448" /><br /></div></div><br />The Institute is a cultural endeavour as a partnership between France and twenty-two Arab countries including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Details:</strong></div> <div>Tickets: FREE<strong> </strong></div> <div>Jan 29th - 6:30PM</div> <div>Auditorium (niveau -2)<br /></div> <div><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imarabe.org%2F" target="_blank">Institut du monde arabe</a> </div> <div><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fmaps.google.fr%2Fmaps%3Ff%3Dq%26source%3Ds_q%26hl%3Dfr%26geocode%3D%26q%3D1%2C%2Brue%2Bdes%2BFoss%25C3%25A9s%2BSaint-Bernard%2B%25E2%2580%2593%2BPlace%2BMohammed%2BV%2BParis%2BCedex%2B05%26sll%3D47.15984%2C2.988281%26sspn%3D12.042055%2C39.550781%26ie%3DUTF8%26ll%3D48.850145%2C2.355988%26spn%3D0.002845%2C0.009656%26z%3D17%26iwloc%3DA" target="_blank">1, rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard – Place Mohammed V </a></div> <div>Paris Cedex 05</div> <div>75236</div> <div> </div> </div><div><em>The film will play in English with French subtitles</em>. See the <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org" target="_blank">trailer</a>.<div class="Ih2E3d"><br /><br />After the screening, there will be a discussion with Co-Director Jane Chablani and myself.</div></div> <div> </div> <div>We hope to see you there and please forward this e-mail to your friends and family in Paris.</div> <div> </div> <div>Best wishes</div> <div>Shamir</div> <div><br /><div align="center"><img style="width: 332px; height: 222px;" src="http://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/209738/e5a9f7b80edb6354433d97075c25c974/image/jpeg" alt="" title="" /><br /></div></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="background-color: rgb(230, 236, 249);"></span><br /></div> <div>Les Jeudis de l’IMA</div> <div>Un espace de réflexion et de débat<br />Autour des cultures et des savoirs du monde arabe<br /><br />JEUDI 29 JANVIER 2009 – 18 h 30<br />Auditorium (niveau -2)<br /><br /></div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>DOCUMENTAIRE DU JEUDI</strong></span></div><br />Une conscience islamique :<br />L’Aga Khan et les Ismaéliens<br /><br />Réalisé par Jane Chablani, Bill Cran et Shamir Allibhai<br />Canada – 2008 – 62 mn – Couleur<br /><br />L’islam pluriel<br />Le film est née du désir de donner à voir un Islam fait de « mosaïques de voix et de perspectives » à travers le destin d’une communauté singulière et de son chef spirituel. Depuis cinquante ans, l’Aga Khan est à la tête des Ismaéliens. Cette communauté, branche du chiisme fondée à la mort du 7ième Imam en 765, a connu son apogée dans le passé avec les Fatimides, une brillante dynastie qui a régné sur l’Égypte et une partie de l’Afrique du Nord du Xe au XIIe siècle. Aujourd’hui, les Ismaéliens témoignent à leur manière du pluralisme de l’islam. Un pluralisme qui est aux antipodes de l’image que veulent en donner des mouvements radicaux, un pluralisme qui suppose un dialogue ouvert entre les civilisations.<br /><br />La projection sera suivie d’un échange entre les cinéastes :<br /><br />Jane CHABLANI a travaillé notamment pour National Geographic et Discovery Channel. En 2007, elle a réalisé un documentaire sur Klimt,<br /><br />Shamir ALLIBHAI poursuit en dehors de ses activités de producteur un master en études théologiques dans les domaines des études islamiques à Harvard.<br /><br /><br />Entrée libre dans la limite des places disponibles<br /><br />Institut du monde arabe, 1, rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard – Place Mohammed V -75236 Paris Cedex 05Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-571716175371462362009-01-12T20:58:00.000-05:002009-01-12T20:59:41.733-05:00Geneva, Switzerland Screening - Jan 27, 2009<div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The Aga Khan Film will makes its Geneva, Switzerland debut on <strong>Jan 27, 2009 at 7pm</strong>. Will you join us? Reserve your tickets <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9386965&msgid=242561&act=48WX&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fdocufactory.ch%2F14901.html" target="_blank">here</a> (CHF 15.00) and please forward this e-mail to your friends, family and colleagues.<br /><br />The documentary will play in English with French subtitles and there will be a post-film discussion with the filmmakers.<br /><br /><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9386965&msgid=242561&act=48WX&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agakhanfilm.org%2F" target="_blank">See the trailer.</a><br /><br />Best wishes,</span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Shamir</span></div> <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Producer<br /><br /><br />Bonjour<br /><br />Nous aimerions vous inviter pour la première du documentaire "THE AGA KHAN & THE ISMAILIS" (GB 2008, 61 min.) de Bill Cran, Jane Chablani & Shamir Allibhai.<br /><br /><br />LE FILM<br /><br />Le premier documentaire sur l'Aga Khan depuis 45 ans... et le premier documentaire sur la communauté des Ismailis et le Aga Khan Development Network Genève (la plus grande NGO privé du monde).<br /><br />Ce documentaire constitué de d'images inédites dresse le portrait d'un homme respecté par la communauté internationale, prêchant tolérance et pacifisme, en contraste avec les interprétations autrement plus extrémistes du Coran que prônent d'autres courants islamiques.<br /><br />DATE<br /><br />27 Jan, 19.00, Cinema Bio (<a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9386965&msgid=242561&act=48WX&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cinema-bio.ch%2F" target="_blank">www.cinema-bio.ch</a>)<br />En présence du producteur Shamir Allibhai et la mettrice en scène Jane Chablani ("Stealing Klimt")<br /><br />R.S.V.P.<br /><br />Jusq'au Jan 17, merci<br /><br />RESERVATION<br /><br />Vous pouvez réserver des billets (CHF 15.00) sur <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9386965&msgid=242561&act=48WX&c=209738&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.docufactory.ch%2F" target="_blank">www.docufactory.ch</a> (AgaKhanFilm) ou avec un email sur agakhanfilm [ at ] docufactory.ch</span>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-88226737832346827012008-11-27T00:46:00.004-05:002008-11-30T20:25:04.791-05:00Film Premiere Pictures - DRC - Day 2<span style="font-weight: bold;">Aga Khan Film - West Africa Premiere</span><br />The Democratic Republic of Congo - Day 2 - Oct 18, 2008<br /><br />I started the day with local students speaking about filmmaking in general and the journey of the Aga Khan Film in particular. We also spoke about Islam, engaging with people of other faiths, and pursuits towards peace. The students were very bright and inquisitive, asking dozens and dozens of insightful questions. Many of these students came to the evening screening event to watch the film.<br /><br />Day 2's premiere was mainly for Ismailis. The audience was at capacity with over 500 attendees.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS41Dp9BbuI/AAAAAAAAAt0/yHoFCsYTTbM/s1600-h/IMG_3218.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS41Dp9BbuI/AAAAAAAAAt0/yHoFCsYTTbM/s400/IMG_3218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210550615109346" border="0" /></a>Shafique, one of the organizers of the event.</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS41EN_rRbI/AAAAAAAAAuE/c1N6UFUMJD0/s1600-h/IMG_3349.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS41EN_rRbI/AAAAAAAAAuE/c1N6UFUMJD0/s400/IMG_3349.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210560289916338" border="0" /></a>Here I am, speaking to students about filmmaking<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS41DwY3w8I/AAAAAAAAAt8/vdYIrxXtZaA/s1600-h/IMG_3343.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS41DwY3w8I/AAAAAAAAAt8/vdYIrxXtZaA/s400/IMG_3343.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210552342528962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS41DWjrJaI/AAAAAAAAAts/DByBiK23ano/s1600-h/IMG_3214.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS41DWjrJaI/AAAAAAAAAts/DByBiK23ano/s400/IMG_3214.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210545408517538" border="0" /></a>A promotion poster for the film in Gujarati - a base language for most DRC Ismailis<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS436_KoBAI/AAAAAAAAAuM/aNcQOCvFifk/s1600-h/IMG_3354.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS436_KoBAI/AAAAAAAAAuM/aNcQOCvFifk/s400/IMG_3354.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273213700225369090" border="0" /></a>Buses were organized so that Ismailis could come straight from jamatkhane after prayers to the hall for the film screening.<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS405LBRTgI/AAAAAAAAAtc/P2tKbeKnYSM/s1600-h/DSC_0033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS405LBRTgI/AAAAAAAAAtc/P2tKbeKnYSM/s400/DSC_0033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210370512735746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS404IzhJbI/AAAAAAAAAtE/komLJJwsY3k/s1600-h/DSC_0029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS404IzhJbI/AAAAAAAAAtE/komLJJwsY3k/s400/DSC_0029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210352738313650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS40uCbwxDI/AAAAAAAAAsk/0Gn7Kg-ixno/s1600-h/DSC_0011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS40uCbwxDI/AAAAAAAAAsk/0Gn7Kg-ixno/s400/DSC_0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210179229369394" border="0" /></a>Sayna, giving the introduction</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS40upbZr3I/AAAAAAAAAs0/8B03byvvNuE/s1600-h/DSC_0020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS40upbZr3I/AAAAAAAAAs0/8B03byvvNuE/s400/DSC_0020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210189696839538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS404SHZ5CI/AAAAAAAAAtM/l8OhGfeiwHs/s1600-h/DSC_0030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS404SHZ5CI/AAAAAAAAAtM/l8OhGfeiwHs/s400/DSC_0030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210355237643298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS404FEz8xI/AAAAAAAAAs8/TJkyPQ_bjzg/s1600-h/DSC_0022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS404FEz8xI/AAAAAAAAAs8/TJkyPQ_bjzg/s400/DSC_0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210351737107218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS40uLo803I/AAAAAAAAAsc/zENdZ-Qs00M/s1600-h/DSC_0009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS40uLo803I/AAAAAAAAAsc/zENdZ-Qs00M/s400/DSC_0009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210181700604786" border="0" /></a>Neemat, one of the organizers of the event.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS40t47S-RI/AAAAAAAAAsU/ZeH00EZ4lyw/s1600-h/DSC_0003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS40t47S-RI/AAAAAAAAAsU/ZeH00EZ4lyw/s400/DSC_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273210176677280018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS43-q8_wCI/AAAAAAAAAuc/mLyhVXDSzGc/s1600-h/IMG_3398.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS43-q8_wCI/AAAAAAAAAuc/mLyhVXDSzGc/s400/IMG_3398.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273213763518971938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS4361eesDI/AAAAAAAAAuU/7JWPV2Ksucs/s1600-h/IMG_3385.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS4361eesDI/AAAAAAAAAuU/7JWPV2Ksucs/s400/IMG_3385.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273213697624289330" border="0" /></a>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-21917056774477206352008-11-26T16:40:00.002-05:002008-11-27T00:53:49.325-05:00Film Premiere Pictures - Democratic Republic of Congo - Day 1<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aga Khan Film - West Africa Premiere</span><br />The Democratic Republic of Congo - Day 1 - Oct 17, 2008<br /><br />Hot on the heels of the Lebanon and Switzerland Premieres, I ended up in the DRC for the West Africa Premiere. There are about 1300 to 1500 Ismailis who live here, most of them originate from India.<br /><br />Awhile back, Ismailis in the DRC had somehow got a hold of the Aga Khan Film and a group of them were especially keen to host a public screening of the documentary. They diligently planned and organized the event, including finding sponsorship and securing a venue. It wasn't until 2 weeks before the screening, when Neemat, one of the organizers, suggested that they should invite me, did I even get involved. To a large extent, this is exactly what I hoped for: people are moved and motivated to host screenings of the film - with or without me. They aspire to have the discussion and debate with regards to the issues the film touches on: Islam and plurality, the fragmentation of the Muslim World, and the Ummah and its relation with the West. And the supporters use their experiences, contacts, and resources to make it all happen.<br /><br />The first screening was open to all including invites that went to ambassadors, elected officials, business people, academics, and government/embassy staff. Day 2 was a screening specifically for Ismailis.<br /><br />See some of Day 1's pictures below.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EnPFsZCI/AAAAAAAAArc/QWtsyGAFO90/s1600-h/DSC_0007+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EnPFsZCI/AAAAAAAAArc/QWtsyGAFO90/s400/DSC_0007+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086917065073698" border="0" /></a><br />DR Congo, a country struggling under a weight of conflicts, aspiring for peace<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3Ens-2GSI/AAAAAAAAArs/5umEQLAEWRk/s1600-h/IMG_3266.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3Ens-2GSI/AAAAAAAAArs/5umEQLAEWRk/s400/IMG_3266.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086925089413410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EnqdJ8rI/AAAAAAAAArk/usmMbEmzWcc/s1600-h/IMG_3226.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EnqdJ8rI/AAAAAAAAArk/usmMbEmzWcc/s400/IMG_3226.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086924411237042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EBc5ATdI/AAAAAAAAAp8/znI51C9V8Ds/s1600-h/0693872-R2-023-10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EBc5ATdI/AAAAAAAAAp8/znI51C9V8Ds/s400/0693872-R2-023-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086267934920146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EByQ-C_I/AAAAAAAAAqE/eayK68uDL9U/s1600-h/0693872-R2-047-22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EByQ-C_I/AAAAAAAAAqE/eayK68uDL9U/s400/0693872-R2-047-22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086273672580082" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3E0pJXGUI/AAAAAAAAAr8/11C_VmDG_vs/s1600-h/IMG_3328.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3E0pJXGUI/AAAAAAAAAr8/11C_VmDG_vs/s400/IMG_3328.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273087147398076738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3E06NPjRI/AAAAAAAAAsE/e7NUf-idq2I/s1600-h/IMG_3330.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3E06NPjRI/AAAAAAAAAsE/e7NUf-idq2I/s400/IMG_3330.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273087151977762066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3E0RQLwLI/AAAAAAAAAr0/I4-MaOVH4-M/s1600-h/IMG_3322.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3E0RQLwLI/AAAAAAAAAr0/I4-MaOVH4-M/s400/IMG_3322.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273087140984242354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EZyIh3YI/AAAAAAAAAqk/tkDLF-IFgIw/s1600-h/0693872-R1-003-0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EZyIh3YI/AAAAAAAAAqk/tkDLF-IFgIw/s400/0693872-R1-003-0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086685954039170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3Emp_cCLI/AAAAAAAAArU/u7b5OlONFk4/s1600-h/0693872-R2-073-35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3Emp_cCLI/AAAAAAAAArU/u7b5OlONFk4/s400/0693872-R2-073-35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086907106724018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EmvAvGZI/AAAAAAAAArM/z8SKAjvLvMY/s1600-h/0693872-R2-069-33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EmvAvGZI/AAAAAAAAArM/z8SKAjvLvMY/s400/0693872-R2-069-33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086908454345106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EB2wfqII/AAAAAAAAAqM/Sf8BPgQiV-0/s1600-h/0693872-R2-057-27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EB2wfqII/AAAAAAAAAqM/Sf8BPgQiV-0/s400/0693872-R2-057-27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086274878548098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3ECPDSrdI/AAAAAAAAAqc/v4dSjvtdjp4/s1600-h/0693872-R2-065-31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3ECPDSrdI/AAAAAAAAAqc/v4dSjvtdjp4/s400/0693872-R2-065-31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086281399840210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3ECIxNKMI/AAAAAAAAAqU/WD1b4T5o9zs/s1600-h/0693872-R2-063-30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3ECIxNKMI/AAAAAAAAAqU/WD1b4T5o9zs/s400/0693872-R2-063-30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086279713368258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EauyXRmI/AAAAAAAAArE/CA69jOjvjT8/s1600-h/0693872-R1-055-26.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EauyXRmI/AAAAAAAAArE/CA69jOjvjT8/s400/0693872-R1-055-26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086702235633250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EaZek2lI/AAAAAAAAAq8/M_OLIbYIyzw/s1600-h/0693872-R1-019-8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EaZek2lI/AAAAAAAAAq8/M_OLIbYIyzw/s400/0693872-R1-019-8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086696515492434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EaKE9PgI/AAAAAAAAAq0/XbpA0NitxiA/s1600-h/0693872-R1-013-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EaKE9PgI/AAAAAAAAAq0/XbpA0NitxiA/s400/0693872-R1-013-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086692381507074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EZ9gojFI/AAAAAAAAAqs/AsVMipy_q6A/s1600-h/0693872-R1-009-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3EZ9gojFI/AAAAAAAAAqs/AsVMipy_q6A/s400/0693872-R1-009-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273086689007930450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3E1VewfFI/AAAAAAAAAsM/jHWZvIAm9SA/s1600-h/IMG_3334.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SS3E1VewfFI/AAAAAAAAAsM/jHWZvIAm9SA/s400/IMG_3334.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273087159298980946" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ismaili volunteers who did a wonderful job with setting up, food prep, and cleaning up<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-66830147765440988672008-11-10T16:30:00.002-05:002008-11-10T17:05:59.536-05:00Aga Khan Film - Switzerland - 6th weekThe Aga Khan Film will be playing for the 6th week in Zurich again!<br /><br />Next Screening: <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12:30pm, Sunday,<br />November 16, 2008</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Zurich</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, Switzerland</span></span><br /><br />Cinema Location:<br />Arthouse Commercio<br />Mühlebachstrasse 2<br />8008 Zürich<br /><br /><br /><br />A Swiss Article, translated from German:<br /><br />ISLAM IS A MOSAIC, NOT A MONOLITH<br /><a href="http://www.religion.ch/web/kunst/58-der-islam-ist-ein-mosaik-kein-monolith">http://www.religion.ch/web/kunst/58-der-islam-ist-ein-mosaik-kein-monolith</a><br />(translation was sent to me and some aspects seem to be lost in translation)<br /><br /><br />An interview with film producer Shamir Alibhai, whose documentary “The Aga Khan and the Ismailis” had its premiere last sunday.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shamir Allibhai, for whom have you made this film?</span><br /><br />Shamir Allibhai: This film project has been a long time concern of mine, and the necessity of it became more obvious in the past years, when the topic of fundamentalism became more and more acute with Islam so frequently being equated with the name „Bin Laden “.<br /><br />The film addresses itself to a western public, to which I would like to show that the Islamic world represents a mosaic rather than a monolith. But naturally it addresses itself also to the east, were a lot about Islam but nearly nothing about the Ismailis is known.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In the film the commitment of the Aga Khan is represented as exemplary since he is building bridges between the Western and the Islamic world. Is his way the only possible way?</span><br /><br /><br />Shamir Allibhai, film producer: It would not be desirable to have only one facette of Islam. Islam is more than the Koran: Living this religion encompasses also culture and history – Islam is about pluralism. Also the bridging to the Western world can express itself in various shades. This is why the film is called „an Islamic Conscience “and not „the Islamic Conscience“. On the other hand the film deliberately illustrates the social projects initiated by the Aga Khan - as these can indeed be seen as role models.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Aga Khan corresponds to the West expectations of an ideal dialogue partner representing the Muslim world. Is there no danger that he could be instrumentalized?</span><br /><br />The Aga Khan leads the Ismaili community since more than 50 years, it would be naive to assume that he could be instrumentalized by current streams of Western politics. He has got his focus on a long-term commitment and is not so easily deterred from this.<br /><br />His ways are very diplomatic. This is illustrated in the discrete way he expresses himself. He says: „There are friends and people, who are less well disposed“. And he works without seeking media attention. For example it took a whole year before he granted us an interview for this film.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Couldn’t this restraint also be a problem? Moderate voices of Islam cannot be heard often enough...</span><br /><br />This restraint could also be a strategy of the Aga Khan. Perhaps the fact that he works behind the scenes is exactly one of the key elements of his success. He does not waste his energy by deliberately building up a media image. He gives his total committment to the social projects.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The film throws a critical light on the Sunni Muslims. These are nearly always portrayed as traditional, looking backwards and opposed to the Western ideal of the enlightened human being. This can hardly correspond to reality?</span><br /><br />This is not totally correct. For example Imam Fiesal from New York, who is interviewed in the film, represents a moderate Sunni voice. Also it is not the goal of the film to illustrate all Islamic realities, but to outline the biography of an unusual man. And it is a historical fact that Ismailis who have been speaking up for tolerance and progress have been and are persecuted to this day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Aga Khan is considered as the only spiritual leader, who is relevant for the Ismaili Muslims. Do they see him as the manifestation of God on earth?</span><br /><br />The devotion and love that the interviewed people have for the Aga Khan should not be understood in a way that they see him as the manifestation of god on earth. But they see how much he has done for them, and also how much he has sacrificed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where lies the hope for the Islamic world and the future?</span><br /><br />I follow the analysis of the Aga Khan: Todays conflicts are not about a „Clash of Civilizations “, but about a „Clash of Ignorance “, we speak of a war, whose roots lie in ignorance. The solution for a peaceful and tolerant coexistence lies in education: Reading, learning, debating - there lies the chance for change, development and a hopeful future, also in the Islamic world.<br /><br /><br /><br />Source: Panel discussion with Sara Leu, Managing director docufactory distribution, Shamir Alibhai, film producer and Arnold of the Hottinger, longtime correspondent of NZZ (Neue Zürcher Zeitung).Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-33087614164044519072008-10-30T19:09:00.003-04:002008-10-31T11:25:10.860-04:004th week in a row - the Aga Khan Film in Zurich!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SQo_wU3fGJI/AAAAAAAAApM/VDPRFUpLD70/s1600-h/11950_poster_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SQo_wU3fGJI/AAAAAAAAApM/VDPRFUpLD70/s400/11950_poster_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263089214003550354" border="0" /></a>It is because you have spread awareness of the film by word-of-mouth plus with the help of positive press coverage that the Aga Khan Film has continued to screen in Zurich! There is a showing this Sunday, see the details below. Thank you and please keep spreading the word.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(At the bottom of the post, there is an icon that looks like an envelope: clicking on this will allow you to forward this message of the screening to your friends).<br /></span><a href="http://www.arthouse.ch/film/agakhanandtheismailis.html">http://www.arthouse.ch/film/agakhanandtheismailis.html</a><br /><br />Next Screening: <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12:30pm, Sunday,<br />November 2, 2008</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Zurich</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, Switzerland</span></span><br /><br />Cinema Location:<br />Arthouse Commercio<br />Mühlebachstrasse 2<br />8008 Zürich<br /><br />044 250 55 30<br /> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- var v2="TXY2ECTFFZMKCS2RCV";var v7=unescape("%3B%3E%3F%5B%26%26%14%274.%25%246%20W%7C%20%3E");var v5=v2.length;var v1="";for(var v4=0;v4<v5;v4++){v1+=string.fromcharcode(v2.charcodeat(v4)^v7.charcodeat(v4));}document.write('<a class="link-type3" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="window.location=\'mail\u0074o\u003a'+v1+'?subject='+'\'">'+'office@arthouse.ch<\/a>'); //--></script><a class="link-type3" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="window.location='mailto:office@arthouse.ch?subject='">office@arthouse.ch</a><br /> <br /> <div id="film-details"> <div class="film-detail-category"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SQo_v_K9HdI/AAAAAAAAAo8/jlRaNoYYv38/s1600-h/11950_image1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 115px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SQo_v_K9HdI/AAAAAAAAAo8/jlRaNoYYv38/s400/11950_image1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263089208179629522" border="0" /></a>REGIE:</div><div class="film-detail-content">Bill Cran<br />Shamir Allibhai<br />Jane Chablani<br /></div> <div class="film-detail-category">VERLEIH:</div><div class="film-detail-content"><a href="http://www.docufactory.ch/">Docufactory gmbh</a><br /><a href="http://www.docufactory.ch/" target="_new" class="film-link"><br /></a></div> <br /> </div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SQo_wPYA2fI/AAAAAAAAApE/XZdof5N-VKQ/s1600-h/11950_image2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 115px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SQo_wPYA2fI/AAAAAAAAApE/XZdof5N-VKQ/s400/11950_image2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263089212529367538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>The Aga Khan and the Ismailis</b></span> <br /> <strong>Ein Film von Bill Cran, Shamir Allibhai, Jane Chablani</strong><br />Seit fünf Dekaden ist er der spirituelle Führer und Imam der Ismaili Muslime. Die Welt hat sich in dieser Zeit dramatisch verändert: Das letzte Jahrhundert brachte das Ende des Kolonialismus, die Vertreibung der Asiaten aus Uganda, den Fall der eisernen Mauer und 9/11.<br /><br />Die Konflikteherde finden sich nicht nur zwischen Ost und West, sie ziehen sich auch durch die islamische Welt. Die Ismaeliten sind in der Vergangenheit mehrfach verfolgt worden. Dies hat ihre Geschichte und ihre Philosophie geprägt.<br /><br />Wer ist der Aga Khan? Wer sind die Ismaeliten? Und was haben sie über unsere Post-9/11-Welt zu sagen? Im ersten Dokumentarfilm über den Aga Khan seit 45 Jahren geben der Regisseur und mehrfache Emmy-Gewinner Bill Cran und Produzent Shamir Allibhai dem Aga Khan eine Stimme.Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-62072756345716245092008-10-26T19:05:00.002-04:002008-10-27T17:19:40.564-04:00A Wonderful Two WeeksI got back to Boston last Monday after two wonderful weeks of premiering the film in Lebanon, Switzerland, and the DR Congo in Arabic, German, and French respectively. (We also did a second screening in Congo in Gujarati). The next few posts will seem to be out of order, as probably the last few posts seem to be as well: I am trying to catch up on blogging and will focus on different aspects in no particular order.<br /><br />One of the most interesting experiences was at the Beirut International Film Festival. I rarely meet Muslim filmmakers and if I do, it is very briefly with a quick exchange of e-mail addresses. At the film festival it was the first time I got to meet, in one place, so many Muslim filmmakers - and to really get to know them as we spent so much time together including at screenings, dinners, and evening events. One of the questions I was curious to answer and posed to my new friends : <em>Are we Muslim filmmakers or are we filmmakers who happen to be Muslim?</em> Watch for my post on this soon...<br /><br />It was refreshing traveling where by circumstance, I could get away from the constant news coverage of the heated US Presidential race. I did see Colin Powell endorse Obama as it was big news overseas. Powell said something I have been thinking for months:<br /><br />"I'm also troubled by, not what Sen. McCain says, but what members of the party say, and it is permitted to be said such things as: "Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim." Well, the correct answer is: he is not a Muslim. He's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is: What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is: No, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some 7-year-old Muslim-American kid believing he or she can be president?"*<br /><br />Well said Powell.<br /><br /><br />*Source: <a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/election_2008/2008/10/19/powell_endorses_obama/">Salon.com</a>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-37076568385133378692008-10-25T10:34:00.005-04:002008-11-01T18:09:01.090-04:00Picts from Switzerland - Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">Pictures from the Switzerland Premiere - Oct 12, 2008<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaomleqySI/AAAAAAAAAn4/GjriM7INxpU/s1600-h/IMG_3200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaomleqySI/AAAAAAAAAn4/GjriM7INxpU/s400/IMG_3200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574995850873122" border="0" /></a>Ticket from the Zurich screening<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaoITJCNBI/AAAAAAAAAmY/L2Dx421n81s/s1600-h/IMG_3168.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaoITJCNBI/AAAAAAAAAmY/L2Dx421n81s/s400/IMG_3168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574475532219410" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobDEt7bI/AAAAAAAAAmw/7vGnyDE0YAI/s1600-h/IMG_3175.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobDEt7bI/AAAAAAAAAmw/7vGnyDE0YAI/s400/IMG_3175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574797636660658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobN99sYI/AAAAAAAAAm4/myzrlqwgZzw/s1600-h/IMG_3176.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobN99sYI/AAAAAAAAAm4/myzrlqwgZzw/s400/IMG_3176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574800561123714" border="0" /></a>Arnold Hottinger speaking to his fans at the cinema in Basel<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobZlSNYI/AAAAAAAAAnA/OlNDI4wWj1M/s1600-h/IMG_3177.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobZlSNYI/AAAAAAAAAnA/OlNDI4wWj1M/s400/IMG_3177.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574803678836098" border="0" /></a>The gentleman on the left is a former classmate of Prince Amyn, the Aga Khan's brother. He and Prince Amyn were in the same year at school together and they still keep in touch.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobSLl9TI/AAAAAAAAAnI/LYageWfniOc/s1600-h/IMG_3178.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobSLl9TI/AAAAAAAAAnI/LYageWfniOc/s400/IMG_3178.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574801692030258" border="0" /></a>The cinema in Basel<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobxXX8sI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/p0DG55MkkvI/s1600-h/IMG_3180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaobxXX8sI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/p0DG55MkkvI/s400/IMG_3180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574810062942914" border="0" /></a>The Basel audience waiting for the show to begin.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SP3BJ_egcdI/AAAAAAAAAoo/nal7NUTaqTQ/s1600-h/IMG_3183.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SP3BJ_egcdI/AAAAAAAAAoo/nal7NUTaqTQ/s400/IMG_3183.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259572317240979922" border="0" /></a>The Berne audience waiting for the show to begin.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaomRy7TcI/AAAAAAAAAng/m0WgfRlY2Ik/s1600-h/IMG_3185.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPaomRy7TcI/AAAAAAAAAng/m0WgfRlY2Ik/s400/IMG_3185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574990567132610" border="0" /></a>Islam Expert Prof Shulze and I after our Q+A period discussion at the Berne screening.<br /><br />We realized that we actually had traveled together to Delhi, India in 2004 for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture which he was on the <a href="http://www.akdn.org/akaa_award9_members.asp">Master Jury</a> of.<br /></div><br /><strong>REINHARD SCHULZE</strong> is a German linguist and historian, professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Berne, Switzerland, and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. He studied Islam, Latin languages, Arabic, and linguistics at the University of Bonn, and went on to teach at the Universities of Bochum, Bonn, and Bamburg before joining the University of Berne in 1995. Professor Schulze is interested in both the historical development and spread of Islam, and in its contemporary understanding and practice. His most important and recent work is “A Modern History of the Islamic World” (NYU Press, 2000), and he has published widely on the topics of social, economic, and political studies of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, including “The Birth of Tradition and Modernity in 18th and 19th Century Islamic Culture”, “International Islamic Organizations and the Muslims in Europe”, “Mass Culture and Islamic Culture Production in the 19th Century Middle East”, “The Forgotten Honor of Islam: The Muslim World in 1989”, and “Is there an Islamic Modernity?”.Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084049273923050095.post-21102815006082380142008-10-25T08:32:00.001-04:002008-10-27T19:13:23.765-04:00Picts from Zurich, Switzerland<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Switzerland Premiere - Oct 12, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanOafAiFI/AAAAAAAAAjo/Q0SvfKohy8w/s1600-h/IMG_3121.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573481071020114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanOafAiFI/AAAAAAAAAjo/Q0SvfKohy8w/s400/IMG_3121.jpg" border="0" /></a>On the tram<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanOVGIUPI/AAAAAAAAAjw/Evf0l7vfj0I/s1600-h/IMG_3122.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573479624495346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanOVGIUPI/AAAAAAAAAjw/Evf0l7vfj0I/s400/IMG_3122.jpg" border="0" /></a>The cinema in pretty Zurich<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanO8UVo8I/AAAAAAAAAkI/QJod7Wj4En8/s1600-h/IMG_3126.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573490153071554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanO8UVo8I/AAAAAAAAAkI/QJod7Wj4En8/s400/IMG_3126.jpg" border="0" /></a>The queue for tickets to AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE in Zurich<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPankUlfZTI/AAAAAAAAAlA/JHPtfNM-0pA/s1600-h/IMG_3134.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573857444717874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPankUlfZTI/AAAAAAAAAlA/JHPtfNM-0pA/s400/IMG_3134.jpg" border="0" /></a>Even in the midst of discussing serious and sensitive subjects, such as theology and religion, it is important to not forget the smiles and the laughters such as in this light-hearted moment above/below.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPankqs2qFI/AAAAAAAAAlI/xVc8SZjbTCI/s1600-h/IMG_3135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573863381182546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPankqs2qFI/AAAAAAAAAlI/xVc8SZjbTCI/s400/IMG_3135.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPankxVqSII/AAAAAAAAAlQ/gNg79Ppa34c/s1600-h/IMG_3145.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573865162950786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPankxVqSII/AAAAAAAAAlQ/gNg79Ppa34c/s400/IMG_3145.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanlEOd-mI/AAAAAAAAAlY/_0jE4EBDYIs/s1600-h/IMG_3146.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573870233057890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanlEOd-mI/AAAAAAAAAlY/_0jE4EBDYIs/s400/IMG_3146.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZCU6zzI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/27f6gz8yMzY/s1600-h/IMG_3127.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573663564812082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZCU6zzI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/27f6gz8yMzY/s400/IMG_3127.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZIBjMGI/AAAAAAAAAkY/h4sjOzFBWyE/s1600-h/IMG_3128.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573665094185058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZIBjMGI/AAAAAAAAAkY/h4sjOzFBWyE/s400/IMG_3128.jpg" border="0" /></a>Looking at the Illustrated History of the Ismailis book<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZmLBRdI/AAAAAAAAAkg/Bz0mdvwKC3I/s1600-h/IMG_3129.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573673186969042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZmLBRdI/AAAAAAAAAkg/Bz0mdvwKC3I/s400/IMG_3129.jpg" border="0" /></a>Friends and supporters at the Zurich screening<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZgKHFII/AAAAAAAAAko/SuEnyKmJ38M/s1600-h/IMG_3131.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573671572542594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZgKHFII/AAAAAAAAAko/SuEnyKmJ38M/s400/IMG_3131.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZknwQgI/AAAAAAAAAkw/7IZAg8O3arI/s1600-h/IMG_3132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573672770617858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanZknwQgI/AAAAAAAAAkw/7IZAg8O3arI/s400/IMG_3132.jpg" border="0" /></a>Azim, who hosted a pre-party the night before the screenings<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanOoqcWnI/AAAAAAAAAkA/nzYvvbAbi78/s1600-h/IMG_3125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573484877077106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPanOoqcWnI/AAAAAAAAAkA/nzYvvbAbi78/s400/IMG_3125.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan4CT5VXI/AAAAAAAAAlg/IMQONvGmfGU/s1600-h/IMG_3147.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574196136465778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan4CT5VXI/AAAAAAAAAlg/IMQONvGmfGU/s400/IMG_3147.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan4b7pgVI/AAAAAAAAAlo/zyTKYwSEHsg/s1600-h/IMG_3148.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574203014086994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan4b7pgVI/AAAAAAAAAlo/zyTKYwSEHsg/s400/IMG_3148.jpg" border="0" /></a>I was surprised to meet an Afghan Ismaili in Zurich but apparently there are quite a few, such as the gentleman on my left. He said most don't understand English or read German so I gave him the film with Farsi subtitles to share with his friends and family.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan4uHliqI/AAAAAAAAAlw/a5RxKPlaF0c/s1600-h/IMG_3149.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574207895997090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan4uHliqI/AAAAAAAAAlw/a5RxKPlaF0c/s400/IMG_3149.jpg" border="0" /></a>Countess Leila Gangji showing us her photos with the Aga Khan's<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan406mBUI/AAAAAAAAAl4/w9U6e1AVLpw/s1600-h/IMG_3153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574209720550722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan406mBUI/AAAAAAAAAl4/w9U6e1AVLpw/s400/IMG_3153.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan5Kbo1GI/AAAAAAAAAmA/nIQOY74m0HE/s1600-h/IMG_3161.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257574215496291426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPan5Kbo1GI/AAAAAAAAAmA/nIQOY74m0HE/s400/IMG_3161.jpg" border="0" /></a>Shamir Allibhai and <span class="nfakPe">Arnold</span> <span class="nfakPe">Hottinger</span> on their way to screening 2 (Basel)<br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPankF5vBtI/AAAAAAAAAk4/wrM75pkIkRM/s1600-h/IMG_3133.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257573853503096530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tfGBxGiGMCE/SPankF5vBtI/AAAAAAAAAk4/wrM75pkIkRM/s400/IMG_3133.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sara Leu (docufactory distribution) with the owner of the cinema in Zurich </div>Shamir Allibhaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16057525546910262637noreply@blogger.com2