The Seventh Art Stand has been covered by many national outlets, including The New York Times.
Time for Ilhan follows Ilhan Omar, a Somali-American, hijab-wearing mother of three, as she builds upon her community organizer roots and runs for office in Minneapolis, home to one of the largest Somali communities in the U.S. As an immigrant and a charismatic candidate who bridges her Muslim faith with a progressive Democratic platform, Ilhan could pave the way as the first Muslim woman in U.S. Congress, if she wins during this November’s midterm elections.
Dir. Norah Shapiro
2018/USA/89 minutes
A new series emerging from the Arab Film Festival, the Arab Film Series @ AANM aims to bring a wide range of new & classic films by Arab & Arab American filmmakers to the doorstep of metro Detroit. In partnership with Cinema Lamont, AANM strives to bring community members together through film, dialogue and activism.
(FREE SCREENING w/ suggested $5-$10 donation!)
Panel discussion with co-presenters CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) after the screening, featuring:
(FREE SCREENING!)
Tacoma Film Festival takes place from October 4th to 11th.
Panel discussion to follow screenings on both evenings, featuring:
Migrant Solidarity was chosen for its applicability across numerous cultures, in a time of xenophobia. The Supreme Court’s upholding of the Muslim Ban, brutal separation of families crossing the border, and deportation of legal permanent residents are just some of the reasons for revitalizing the Stand. Some of the themes the series might explore include:
– Border-crossing between Mexico and the United States (el mar del mar)
– Asylum seekers due to violence
– Syrian refugees resettling in the U.S. (This is Home, Dayla’s Other Country)
– Muslim-Americans running for office (Time for Ilhan)
– South Asian discrimination
– Japanese internment and detaining of legal residents (And Then They Came for Us)
– Film suggestions shown here.
WHAT IS THE MODEL?
Screenings for The Seventh Art Stand combine a film screening with a discussion (panels, guest speakers, and Q&A’s with filmmakers have all been done), in order to offer extra context and a potential for community engagement. Venues are encouraged to program films that speak to their diverse audiences and communities. Sample programming might look something like:
Northwest Film Forum previously held a screening of el mar la mar, which is an experimental film that weaves together stories from the US/Mexico border, had a post-screening discussion with immigrant rights organizer Maru Mora Villalpando, and Luis Torres, an immigrant who crossed the U.S. border as a teen. Paired with bilingual English-Spanish voter registration.
Arab American National Museum near Detroit, Michigan is programming Time for Ilhan which is about the first Muslim, Somali-American lawmaker, and are pairing it with a discussion with a panel discussion about challenges of running for office and what the Muslim Ban is now. Paired with voter registration.
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WHAT FILMS DO I CHOOSE?
While venues are absolutely free to program however they like, we have attempted to ease the process by putting together a list of recommended films: http://bit.ly/seventhart2018
We are especially suggesting Time for Ilhan, due to its timeliness and connection with voting and elections.
All venues screen and program films in the same way they would for an average screening. If you need additional assistance, please reach out.
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WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
HOSTING A VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE?
Every community has voter registration groups who are keen to register new voters at events! Read this simple step-by-step guide to hosting voter registration drives.
Options for voter registration might include:
Finding volunteers within your organization who would be willing to register voters, through sites like Vote.org (Online), When We All Vote (Online), TurboVote (Online), HeadCount.org (Online).
Enlisting the help of local groups to register voters, such as voting rights groups like League of Women Voters (National, w/ local chapters), Spread the Vote (South), or Voto Latino (Latino voters).
Connecting with local chapters of Indivisible for guidance of voting registration or soliciting volunteers.
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Please reach out to Vivian Hua seventhartstand@gmail.com if you need additional partner suggestions for your area, or if you have any questions about the Seventh Art Stand. After you confirm participation, we will be in touch with more info and updates.
NOTE: You are free to host voter registration drives even if you are a nonprofit, as voting rights organizations are generally nonpartisan. Voting is everyone’s right! Nonetheless, please note that every state has different voter registration policies. You can learn about yours at Rock the Vote.
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DUE DATE FOR PARTICIPATION IS AUGUST 31ST, 2018!
SEND ALL SCREENING DETAILS TO VIVIAN HUA at seventhartstand@gmail.com.
Initially inspired by the Philando Castile ruling in Minnesota, but continuously relevant, the focus centers around films that empower African-Americans, celebrate successful leaders, and offer historical context that leads to the continued unjust treatment of communities of color.
As a response to the travel ban, this initiative kicked off The Seventh Art Stand in February 2017, with the goal of highlighting Muslim American filmmakers and building understanding between communities about the unique plight of Muslims in the United States, as well as abroad.