In the days after 9/11, Usama Alshaibi’s mother suggested that he change his name. Suddenly, Usama’s name was not solely his own. He unfortunately shared it with a criminal mastermind.
In American Arab, the Iraqi-American filmmaker will share his own story and introduce us to others, sparking a frank conversation about the identity of, and perceptions about, Arab-Americans. Seamlessly weaving historical footage, animation, as well as real-life scenes of people living as Arabs in the U.S., the film will put a human face on the vague complexities of racism in post-9/11 America.
What does it mean to be an Arab living in America today?
Arab-Americans are not one monolithic group, but rather a diverse and complex array of many voices and cultures. By making a coherent and entertaining documentary on the Arab-American life and experience, we hope to educate as well as inform audiences on this contemporary American story.
American Arab is a project of Kartemquin's first Diversity Fellowship, sponsored by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The Ford Foundation.
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Watch teaser clip 1: "Hijab" and teaser clip 2: "Taqwacore".
American Arab Demo from Kartemquin Films on Vimeo.
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Tuesday, March 13
A Good Man screens in Greenville, North Carolina
East Carolina UniversityEast Fifth StreetGreenville, NC
Wednesday, March 14
A Good Man screens in Augusta, Georgia!
Morris Museum of Art1 Tenth StreetAugusta, GA
Thursday, March 15
A Good Man screens in Birmingham, Alabama
Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center1200 10th Avenue S.Birmingham, AL
Kartemquin Films is a home for independent filmmakers developing documentary as a vehicle to deepen our understanding of society through everyday human drama. Focusing on people whose lives are most directly affected by social and political change and who are often overlooked or misrepresented by the media, Kartemquin's films open up a dialogue, both in communities and between the general public and policymakers.
Kartemquin documentaries are supported by civic engagement strategies that are developed with local and national partners to foster understanding, change thinking, and build support for social change. As a locally and nationally-recognized media arts organization, Kartemquin acts as a trusted bridge between communities and the media, fosters the growth of emerging filmmaking voices passionate about social issues and media policy, and encourages staff and stakeholders to play a role in advocating for a strong public media.
Kartemquin is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.
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The deadline for Spring internships at Kartemquin has passed. Applications are currently being accepted for Summer 2012. The application deadline is May 1st 2012. Apply for an internship