From Congresswoman Johnson

Please note: Staff and interns are welcome and refreshments will be served.
 
May 20, 2008
 
Documentary Screening: An Islamic Conscience
THE AGA KHAN and the Ismailis
 

 
 
Dear Colleague,
 
I cordially invite you to a screening of An Islamic Conscience: THE AGA KHAN and the Ismailis documentary hosted by the Congressional Muslim Staff Association on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Longworth House Office Building, Room 1310.
 
For the past five decades, the Aga Khan has been the spiritual leader and Imam of the 15 million Shia 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.
 
The groundbreaking documentary is 60 minutes long and looks at the Aga Khan and the Shia Ismailis for the first time through film.  There will be a post-film panel discussion with the Producer Mr. Shamir Alibhai, Director of American-Muslim Studies at Georgetown University Dr. Zahid Bukhari and Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University Mr. Paul Heck. The discussion will be focused on the issue of pluralism in relation to Muslims and non-Muslims.

AFRICA CONTINENT PREMIERE

UPDATE MAY 24, 2008: PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE FOR THE AFRICA PREMIERE: http://agakhanfilm.blogspot.com/2008/05/important-date-change-aga-khan-film-in.html




We have some exciting news: we are launching the film in Africa at the end of the month!!

Many of you have been asking for a release there and we are happy to announce it has now come together. Reserve your FREE seat quickly for the May 28th Dar es Salaam screening as there are limited seats open to the public (details on securing your tickets below). We hope you can make it as we would love to see you there.

-oOo-

The acclaimed groundbreaking documentary AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE makes its
Africa debut in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on May 28th!

(UPDATE MAY 24, 2008: PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE FOR THE AFRICA PREMIERE: http://agakhanfilm.blogspot.com/2008/05/important-date-change-aga-khan-film-in.html)

AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: 7PM, May 28th, 2008
Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski - A very limited number of seats open to the public
Tickets: Free and to be reserved at http://agakhanfilmtanzania.eventbrite.com/

PLUS: After the film there will be a special panel and Q&A with Shamir Allibhai (Filmmaker & Harvard Master’s candidate).

Trailer: http://agakhanfilm.org

Press enquiries: http://agakhanfilm.org/contact.asp

Pictures from Stanford

Left to Right: Farid Senzai (moderator and Fellow and Director of Research, Institute of Social Policy and Understanding), Shamir Allibhai, Shazad Bashir (Professor, Dept of Religious Studies, Stanford), al-Husein Madhany (Strategist, One Nation)

SF Screening and...Congresswoman Johnson to host screening on Capitol Hill!

The San Francisco Screening last night went FAN – TASTIC! Great mix of people and intuitive questions. One person even flew in just to see the film - from Tanzania!! Our fellow brothers and sisters at the Ismaili Students Association - Stanford did a wonderful job organizing and hosting the film for 300 people at the Annenberg Auditorium, Stanford University. One question I got asked in private that was following up on a question that I got asked in the Q+A, I thought I would share with you in paraphrase:

Ismaili audience member - Question: Hazar Imam’s unique participation in this documentary must have been for certain reasons. What do you think they were?
Shamir - Answer: Generally speaking, no one participates in a documentary unless they believe in the vision of the endeavor and they see opportunity in it to further their objectives, whether it is communications objectives or others.
Q: Then that must come with obligations for all of us Ismailis with respect to our role and your documentary. What do you expect from the community?
A: That comes with obligations to limit and halt the Ismaili piracy! (chuckle) It does, but it is an obligation for all Ismailis and non-Ismailis who see value in this film with its story and higher-level objectives to support the cause, to spread the word of the doc, and to host screenings even it is just in their home with a few of their friends and colleagues. And have the discussion – dialogue is a fundamental belief of our faith. Pluralism starts in our own backyard.
(end)

And....As announced last night at the screening…
Congresswoman Bernice Eddie Johnson of Texas and the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association will be hosting a premiere of the Aga Khan Film on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, May 20th, 2008. WOW, we are so excited. The screening will be open to policy makers, diplomats, and the public. Feel free to share with all those you know.

Details:
AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE invited to be screened on Capitol Hill by hosts Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
2PM – Room 1310
Longworth House Office Building
Washington DC
**Tickets are FREE**
**Open to the Public**

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.
Securing a rare and exclusive interview with the Aga Khan and 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.

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?

THE ROLE OF DOCUMENTARY FILM & ALTERNATIVE MEDIA IN POLICY AND POLITICS

Panel discussion on Tuesday:

A panel discussion brought to you by the Media PIC and sponsored by The Shorenstein Center, Harvard University.
A DIFFERENT LENS:
THE ROLE OF DOCUMENTARY FILM & ALTERNATIVE MEDIA IN POLICY AND POLITICS
Tuesday, April 29th at 6pm
Littauer-382
The Kennedy School of Government
Panelists:
Ben Achtenberg
Shamir Allibhai
John Ewing
Laurel Greenberg

Laurel Greenberg is an independent documentary filmmaker whose feature documentaries "94 Years and 1 Nursing Home Later" (1999) and "Trouble in Paradise" (2004) have won awards and been shown in film festivals nationwide and on PBS.
John Ewing is a digital media artist who creates activist public art with an emphasis on community participation. He spent two years in El Salvador using the arts to organize and inspire dialogue about human rights.
Shamir Allibhai is Producer and Director of the broadcast documentary AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis (2008).
Ben Achtenberg, an Oscar-nominated producer and distributor of documentary films related to healthcare, mental health, and aging, is President of Fanlight Productions & Project Director and Producer of Refuge.

Post from a Los Angeles Organizer

Posted as written by Neelam Khoja, organizer of the LA/Claremont Graduate University screening:

It isn’t every day when you meet someone who not only dares to dream, but also dares to make his dream a reality. In November, I met someone who did just that: in high school, Shamir dreamt to make a movie about the Aga Khan and in December he premiered it at the Kennedy School of Government. When I heard about the screening, I asked him if he would consider doing the same here, on the west coast. He agreed, and the very next day I was able to get the President of Claremont Graduate University and the Dean of the School of Religion on board with the California Premiere.

I thought bringing the documentary to Los Angeles, and Claremont specifically, was important because it would allow for an easier articulation of my faith. In my two years at Claremont Graduate University, I was constantly in the spotlight because I was one of first students to enter into and graduate from their MA in Islamic Studies program. I found myself explaining who an Ismaili Muslim was in all of my encounters with people as influential as the Board of Visitors at the President’s house to the camera guy when I was selected as the School of Religion’s “poster girl.” With the exception of a few, most people had never heard of the Ismailis, let alone met one.

After watching the movie, it became evident that this documentary would go beyond simply putting Ismailis on the map because it shows how the Ismailis can be viewed as an example of moderate Muslims who value peace, tolerance, development and most importantly love for humanity. Moreover, it helps to place the Aga Khan among some of the most forward thinking religious leaders, who practices what he preaches and serves as a role model for his followers and anyone else who comes to know him. His dedication to the Ismaili community and humanity at large is well presented, providing a beacon of hope in the tumultuous conditions humankind has faced and continues to struggle with today.

My sincere hope is that more people will find inspiration from both the movie and the person who dreamt to make it. Blazing the trail to resisting against being silenced, Shamir has provided a wonderful opportunity for all of us to learn more about each other, which will hopefully lead to filling the gap of ignorance by continuing the conversation. But it is up to us to do that: first, we must watch the movie, and then encourage others to watch it too. Through this process, hopefully, more people will come to know who the Aga Khan is and who the Ismailis are, thereby alleviating the unawareness of Islam’s rich diversity, interpretations, and expressions.

-Neelam Khoja

Aga Khan Film - San Fran Screening - Apr 30th!

Dear Supporter

We have been working hard to get AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE seen as far and wide as possible - thank you to all those who have been supporting the cause, buying the DVDs, sharing it with colleagues and friends, and spreading the word.

Stanford University has graciously asked us if they could host a screening of the documentary and has invited us to do a post-film panel discussion. How could we say no? For those of you who live in the area, we would love to see you at the Apr 30th San Francisco screening. See the details below.

Best wishes

Shamir & the Aga Khan Film team

-oOo-

Groundbreaking Islamic Documentary Comes to Stanford for Bay Area Debut
Sponsored by the Office of Religious Life and the Vice Provost of Student Affairs at Stanford University.
April 30th, 2008 – Stanford University – 7pm – Open to public – Tickets: Free with RSVP

AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: The Aga Khan & the Ismailis

At a time when the divides between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds seems to be getting worse, not better, this is a film that must be seen. PLUS: After the film there will be a special panel and Q&A with Shamir Allibhai, Filmmaker & Harvard Master's candidate; and Shazad Bashir, Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Stanford University;

To RSVP for this event, please click here: http://agakhanfilm.eventbrite.com

**Seating is limited. RSVP guarantees you a seat.**

Details:
April 30th, 2008 – 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Annenberg Auditorium, Stanford University
435 Lasuen Mall
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Tickets: FREE to students and general public

Watch the trailer NOW:
http://www.agakhanfilm.org

Share the event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=9966629892

To purchase the DVDs:

http://www.agakhanfilm.org/buy_now.asp

The Power of Viral Marketing

As an independent filmmaker, resources have to be watched much more closely than if you were part of the Hollywood Studio system. They still have budgets and accountants but an independent filmmaker often has to stretch the dollar further.

The result is often that there is little or no money left for marketing once the film is made. How do you create awareness on a little or no budget?

For us, viral marketing has been incredibly powerful to spreading the word. For example on the social networking site Facebook, we used an application called RapOuts that yielded over 92,000 (!!!) trailer views through that tool alone. This week we had our 10,000th person sign up to be an active supporter and just under half of them pledged to share the film with at least 2 colleagues and friends. It is this kind of grassroots support that has helped spread the film beyond its niche and to spread it around the world.

In a brief few months, we have had website hits from almost every single country - countries where there are no Muslims or sizable portions of them. DVD orders have come from every continent (except Antarctica, maybe they are weary of the postal system there ;) ). And people of all faiths, from all over, have written to us expressing their thoughts and gratitude with the film.

So I guess this post is really a thank you one to the many of you out there who have been such great supporters, who continue to be so supportive, spreading the word and championing the cause to reflect Islam in a fair and balanced light.

Lets not get too sentimental as there is still much work to be done but...

THANK YOU.



RapOuts: http://www.rapouts.com
Aga Khan Film Facebook application
Website: http://www.agakhanfilm.org

Pictures from A Second Harvard Screening

Dr. William Graham, (left) Dean of Harvard's Divinity School, a specialist of Islamic Studies and just a brilliant man all around! Right, Shamir, producer of AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE

Dean Graham and Shamir fielding questions from the audience.

Shamir giving the introduction to the film

Shamir answering last minutes tech questions (mics, volume, etc)

Photos by Matt Hotham, Harvard Divinity School

Pictures: LA Screening

Dr. Hussein and Dr. Michon

Shamir Allibhai

Dean Torjesen and Shamir Allibhai (L to R)

Photos courtesy of Nina and Gafoor Jaffer

Claremont Graduate University's Screening

I have to say it was really fun and interesting to be at the LA Screening of the film. President Robert Klitgaard and Dean Karen Torjesen of the Theological School gave warm introductions and after the film, there was a lively discussion.

From my last post I was wondering whether people in California had a different perspective on Islam and its relationship to the West but I did not get a definite answer to this as the audience was probably a self-selecting group. Those who are interested in Islam and/or the Aga Khan and the Ismailis came to see the film and for that reason they tended to have a good base of knowledge on the subject already.

Next time I will discourage weekend screening as I dont think they work too well at universities if one is aiming to get a packed and diverse audience. Claremont Graduate University had reserved approximately half the seats for students but as it was a Saturday (and a beautiful day), only some of them showed up. It is tough to get students to come to school on a weekday let alone on a weekend! But I did gather useful feedback from many who came, and it is interesting how this film has appealed to people across all age groups. Brief snippets of feedback, this is from a parent:

"I think every Ismaili must see this film as it can be used as a great tool to articulate and express some aspects of our faith. Specially our Ismaili youths here in USA really needed this. I will definitely recommend it to all I know."

From a young adult:
"While it may not have been said enough, you must be congratulated for the massive efforts you have made to start what I hope is a healthy debate and dialogue on Ismaili and wider Muslim identity and relations. "

A student:
"I think that the film is a very appropriate introduction to the uninformed about Ismailism, and positive Islamic values that are fundamentally held by a large number of Muslims, but which are swept under the rug by mainstream media."

Overall, it seems many people are concerned about the Muslim - non-Muslim world divide and trying to "figure it out." I am hopeful with the energy people have to wanting to learn more. One question that has come up before is: how do we get this film to the wider world? I said I am trying to get the film onto television in places such as America but without a secured broadcaster yet, it will be through the screenings people host and through bringing their friends and colleagues to them. With the DVD's, I hope people invite their workmates, classmates, and everybody else to view it with them in their homes. And have a discussion afterwards. This film is but a perspective showing but a side of Islam. How does the film touch on the bigger issues facing our world? What can each of us do to help play a role in solving the 'clash of ignorance'? Or you may disagree altogether and that there is a clash of another sort. Whatever the case: constructive dialogue is good.

I am here

And very excited. (Partly because of the wonderful California weather, it was cold, raining and snowing in Boston when I left!)

Thank you to Claremont university for organizing and to all those who put in countless hours.

There is a much more laid back culture here than on the east coast - I wonder how, if at all, that has affected people's understanding of Islam or search for knowledge of it. Or their proximity to Hollywood and its big blockbuster films - how will they view an independent documentary differently than other parts of the USA which don't have a film industry?

Updates after the film...