The challenges of screening in Dushanbe

Our screenings in Khorog went wonderfully. Dushanbe did too but only after a lot of headaches to make it happen.

Two and a half months ago we started seriously exploring the idea of a screening in Tajikistan. Screenings can be tricky to organize. Usually we find a sponsor and then search for and secure a venue. Next, we promote the event to get a good-sized audience. Little did we know that screening a film in Tajikistan is much more difficult than that.

First it was a foreign country and we had no idea of venues that would screen the film.

Secondly, there is a language barrier. Most people speak Russian and/or Tajik. We spoke neither. Some cinema-owners spoke broken English, others, nil. We often needed to bring along a friend to translate. Cinema owners, naturally, figure us out to be foreigners immediately and as quickly, the price for hiring out a screen doubles or triples.

When we finally agreed on the venue and the price, you would think, this is it. All set. Create tickets, market the event, invite embassies and other VIPs, and we should be ready to go. And all was ready to go - till a couple of days before the premiere.

Just before the Dushanbe screening was to take place, we were informed by the owner of the agreed-upon venue, Dom Kino, that he had been visited by officials from the government of Tajikistan who told him that the screening could not go forward without their permission. Fresh off five hectic days in Khorog where we were able to pull off seven successful screenings, I rushed back to Dushanbe to help three of my friends - who are really the heroes out of all this - sort out the situation. Meeting after meeting with the government ensued through the Ministry of Culture and the Special Committee on Religion. We couldn’t figure out what had suddenly caused the problem – one Ministry official even implied that the roadblocks were being thrown into our path not because the government desired to block the screening, but rather at the instigation of AKDN Tajikistan. But when I asked the head of AKDN Tajikistan, he said it was the government.

All the way to the day of the screening we attended meeting after meeting after meeting, pressing our case to make this premiere happen. There was also one really stubborn official at the Ministry who would not watch the film and just kept on coming up with different reasons to stop the screening, none of which really made sense and, cumulatively, definitely did not offer a coherent argument. My translator / friend said it seemed he had a deal with someone to deter the film.

Apparently this issue went to the Deputy Minister on Fri, Aug 29. We are not sure what he said because we just could not wait around any longer. Luckily we had a backup plan and a backup venue, and via a frantic round of calls to embassy personnel, UN’ers, AKDN’ers and others, got many people to come to the new location.

In retrospect, I look back at my original email announcing the screening in Tajikistan. The email blast went out before any of the struggle in Dushanbe happened, but it is rather ironic how I mentioned this documentary was a fight against those who are in power who like to impose it on the rest of us, almost foreshadowing what was to come in Dushanbe. Without leading into a huge discourse as to what is freedom: freedom really is a timeless struggle.

Central Asia Premiere - Dushanbe, Tajikistan - Pictures

We did it, we did it, we did it.

When I wanted to screen the Aga Khan Film in Tajikistan, I did not know how difficult it would be. Thank you to the certain key people, you know who you are, who made it happen and would not take no for an answer.

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These pictures are in reverse order but nevertheless, the celebration pictures are the most important so here they are first:

Musicians and music from the region.

Dancing, Tajik style.


A full-house: standing-room only please.


This gentleman on the left complimented the film during the Q+A session, saying how for him, as a non-Ismaili, this was very useful and he thinks this is an excellent piece to show to many others.


A small world: The lady in the middle I had actually met just over a year ago in Kenya when I was trying to capture the essense of the East African Ismailis' stories. She had just arrived from Afghanistan, heard the film was playing and showed up. It was nice to see her. She recalled the struggle we had a year ago in the context of how it all worked out in the end.

My translator and a new friend, Shodi, trying to remember everything I am saying so he can translate accurately.

Q+A with the audience.




The audience waiting for the screening to start. This venue, an open-air museum, was probably one of the coolest we have ever screened in.

Here I am sooooooo happy that we figured out a solution to the challenges of screening in Dushanbe!

_oOo_

So this weekend we celebrate, tomorrow we can rant about the unjustifiably MASSIVE challenges, created by various organizations, of screening a film here in Tajikistan . To be continued on Monday...

ASIA-Plus Article on Tajikistan Premiere

http://www.asiaplus.tj/en/news/44/37469.html

Documentary “An Islamic Conscience: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis” to be shown in Dushanbe on August 29

23.08.2008 10:51

Author: Daler Ghufronov

DUSHANBE, August 23, 2008, Asia-Plus -- Central Asia Premiere of documentary “An Islamic Conscience: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis” will be held at Dom Kino in Dushanbe on August 29.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the film producer, Mr. Shamir Alibhai, said that “An Islamic Conscience: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis” is an independent documentary feature film directed by multiple Emmy-award winning filmmaker Bill Cran. It was first broadcast nationally on television in Canada and has been screening all over the world including at Harvard, Stanford, London, and East Africa.

The film is about His Highness the Aga Khan, who became Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 1957 and his efforts to promote dialogue between civilizations.

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.

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.

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?