This year’s 2nd annual Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival will be taking place on Thursday March 3 through April 20. The event is dedicated to discovering and sharing some of the most exhilarating and thought provoking films from around the world. The objective is to use film as a way to converse on topics and issues that are relevant to matters occurring in the world today, generating important discussions regarding Muslims and the Muslim world.
“We didn’t want to just bring fluff. We want people to know about the issues going on and to have an opportunity to discuss them,” said Janan Najeeb, president of MMWC
The Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival is organized by the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, a highly respected organization that has been a part of the Greater Milwaukee area for the past twenty years. Their dedicated team carefully selected films from across the globe that transcend countries, languages and cultures while highlighting the common humanity among people of all races, ethnicities and religious beliefs.
The Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival aims to pave the way for award-winning films to be discovered and for creative filmmakers to receive the attention they deserve.
Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr
In July of 2002, Toronto-born 15-year-old Omar Khadr was wounded and captured by US forces in Afghanistan and sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Considered by some to be a child soldier and accused by many others of terrorism, Khadr would find his next 13 years to be a long, torturous battle for freedom.
Journey Into Europe
Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, a world-renowned anthropologist, Islamic scholar, and filmmaker, explores Islam in Europe and the place of Islam in European history and civilization in this unprecedented study. In the film shot across the continent in countries such as Germany, the U.K., France, Spain, and Bosnia, we hear from some of Europe’s most prominent figures, and everyday Europeans from a variety of backgrounds.
The Idol
In July of 2002, Toronto-born 15-year-old Omar Khadr was wounded and captured by US forces in Afghanistan and sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Considered by some to be a child soldier and accused by many others of terrorism, Khadr would find his next 13 years to be a long, torturous battle for freedom.
Al Helm: Martin Luther King in Palestine
An African American gospel choir is the Greek chorus for a Palestinian play on Martin Luther King, Jr. which tours the West Bank, preaching nonviolence. The devoutly Christian choir grew up in churches strongly allied with Israel. On their first trip to the Holy Land they witness the harsh realities of life under occupation, a nonviolent movement for justice, and an assassination.
Bilal
A thousand years ago, one boy with a dream of becoming a great warrior is abducted with his sister and taken to a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change. Inspired by true events, this is a story of a real hero who earned his remembrance in time and history.
About the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition
The MMWC is led by a board of professional women, the goals of the MMWC are to empower Muslim women, advocate for Islam and help others statewide to have a better understanding of Islam. To learn more, visit www.mmwconline.org.
