Category: projects

my essay in post magazine

a while back i was approached by post magazine for an interview about my work (thx carlie fishgold), mostly my film “the muslims i know.” once they learned more about my entire body of work, which includes art, film, photography and writing, they decided to let me write my own story, in my own words. it was an incredibly empowering editorial decision. it moved me immensely. i sent them two essays: one based on what i thought they were looking for (being a filmmaker in rochester) and then another one which was more loosely autobiographical and tackled my “muslimness.” they chose the second essay. it was published in the july/august issue of post magazine, with some wonderful photography by betsy traub. here are some pictures. more about post magazine here.

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‘A Thin Wall’ Puts People’s Stories at Forefront of History

Derek Scarlino and Stephanie Inserra both traveled from Utica to Rochester to attend the premiere of A THIN WALL for the Love and Rage Media Collective. Here is their wonderful review!
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Through its personal stories, artwork and animation, Mara Ahmed’s A Thin Wall is a moving, thoughtful addition to the stories of refugees and immigrant communities throughout the melting pot of the United States. It provides a refreshing, organic look at history how it was lived by its actual witnesses as opposed to being told in a more traditional fashion by third parties focusing exclusively on notable social movements and leaders. More here.

Metro Justice and DUPC present “The Muslims I Know”

As Part of the YWCA’s Stand Against Racism, Metro Justice and Downtown United Presbyterian Church present the film “The Muslims I Know” followed by talkback featuring filmmaker Mara Ahmed on Monday, April 20, 2015 6:30 PM.

Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street
(free parking across street in City Hall lot)

Admission is free.

This personal documentary focuses on the Pakistani American community in Rochester and addresses serious issues in an edgy, fast-paced, tightly edited, modern format. It is a much needed platform for Muslims to express their views about what’s happening in the world. Being both American and Muslim they have a unique insight into the complex inner workings of American foreign policy and the role of the media. Filmmaker Mara Ahmed acts as the film’s narrator, taking the audience on a journey into a little-known, but much talked about American community. The Muslims I Know premiered at the Dryden Theatre in 2008. It was part of the High Falls Film Festival in 2009 and broadcast on PBS in the Rochester area.

YWCA Stand Against Racism is an annual event in the month of April to raise awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism. For Information call Metro Justice at 585-325-2560.

the muslims i know by mara ahmed
the muslims i know by mara ahmed

A THIN WALL reviewed in City News

Adam Lubitow of City News reviews “A Thin Wall” in today’s paper:

In her lyrically non-linear documentary “A Thin Wall,” local filmmaker Mara Ahmed focuses on the lingering effects of the partitioning of India in 1947. Filmed on each side of the border — in both India and Pakistan — the deeply personal production allows Ahmed and co-producer Surbhi Dewan to examine their individual histories, assembling the recollections of family members and close friends, along with on-the-street conversations with citizens of both countries. What emerges is a complicated portrait of a people torn apart by arbitrary lines and still feeling the effects of the deaths, displacement, and mass migration that resulted.

We hear from each family as they share stories of their lives before and after the division, explaining the devastating effect it had on their loved ones and the culture at large. By focusing on these personal narratives, Ahmed creates a powerful and intimate account of history. “A Thin Wall” mixes in art, animation, music, and literary writing — including pieces by British poet John Siddique, Pakistani writer Uzma Aslam Khan, and Indian historian Urvashi Butalia — weaving together a rich tapestry of history, memory, and loss, while imploring us to retain the lessons taught to us by the past. More here.

Join us for a one-time screening of the film at the Little Theatre on April 10, 2015 at 7:00 pm. More info here.

lia tarachansky in rochester

march 18, 2015: with the fabulous lia tarachansky here in rochester where her film “on the side of the road” was screened at the U of R last night and will be screened again today at school without walls and then at the islamic center of rochester at 7 pm (the event is open to the public). lia’s film was part of the witness palestine film series last year and she charmed everyone with her honesty and courage in a skype session with the audience afterwards. yesterday we checked out beale street cafe where we had po’ boys. then we almost froze to death when we walked around the high falls district. lia is studying film right now so she loved the george eastman house – excellent exhibits on the history of photography (one particular henri cartier-bresson photograph has to be seen to be believed) and on the advent of technicolor in film (those are the colors i want in my documentaries). always an honor and pleasure to finally connect with an activist friend in real life!

mara ahmed and lia tarachansky at beale street cafe
mara ahmed and lia tarachansky at beale street cafe
lia at high falls in rochester, ny
lia at high falls in rochester, ny
technicolor exhibition at george eastman house
technicolor exhibition at george eastman house

global citizenship conference

march 10, 2015: just taught a class at nazareth college on “religion in media and popular culture.” i chose to focus on islam as it’s particularly distorted by the use of selected images in mainstream media, which are then repeated ad nauseam. this was part of the global citizenship conference at naz which is meant for high school students. i introduced myself as an activist filmmaker and asked them the meaning of activism. they were more than familiar with the concept. one of the girls was involved with an anti-capitalist/pro-social justice group and another with indigenous peoples’ rights. they understood the meaning of media oligarchy and therefore the importance of independent filmmaking. we listened to edward said explaining orientalism, we looked at images of muslims as they appear mostly in the media and then i showed them images of the narcycist and shadia mansour. i showed them beautiful photographs from iraqi photojournalist tamara abdul hadi’s “picture an arab man” and stills from “the speed sisters.” we also discussed “american sniper” and the problematics of seeing the iraqi people (their villages and neighborhoods and streets and children) thru the scope of a loaded gun (what a perfect metaphor for racism). finally, we talked about the recent wave of killings in chapel hill, kansas city, kentucky and dallas. i wanted to end on a serious note, to show the students how the consequences of stereotyping are v real and tragic. we concluded the class with chimamanda adichie’s ted talk about “the danger of a single story.” i teach this class every year and every time i’m amazed by the responses i get from students – they’re bright, open-minded and up to any mental exercise i dare them to in order to declutter their minds. there’s hope for the future.

Meet the Muslim man who is a member of a Synagogue Council

my new film “a thin wall,” which is about the partition of india, will be screened in bradford on may 17th, as part of the bradford literature festival. seems like a wonderful city.
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Bradford’s Synagogue Council has just appointed Jani Rashid as its first Muslim member. The appointment strengthens well-established bonds between the two communities in the city. In 2013, the Bradford Council for Mosques came to the rescue of the Grade II-listed synagogue, making a donation that helped save it when dwindling funds put its future in danger. “The local Muslim community has been an unfailing partner in the fight to keep the building open and flourishing,” said a spokesman. More here.

22 years of marriage and life in rochester

feb 12, 2015: this morning i had a wonderful meeting with carlie from post magazine – we talked about collaborating in multi-media ways. what i didn’t know was that carlie has worked closely with the native american community in upstate ny. she offered to get me connected to local activists, which is what i’ve always wanted. as i came back from java’s, i got a call from my friend heather who gave me heartwarming feedback on my participation yesterday in tino sehgal’s “this situation,” a live-work (at the hartnett gallery) in which 6 “interpreters” compose a series of tableaux while discussing philosophy, economics, aesthetics and the difference between desire and passion (those were some of the topics that came up during our 4-hour performance). the piece is so inspiring that one cannot help but come up with other versions of it. later in the afternoon, i met chuck, the owner of NXT media and a dear friend. i handed over “a thin wall” for post production. the last time chuck polished up a film of mine was in 2011, when i saw the final version of “pakistan one on one” and almost wept with joy. on my way back i got a call from my friend michael who’s trying to figure out a date to visit the one and only jalil muntaqim. this evening we are going out for dinner to celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary. it seriously doesn’t seem that long. i have so much to be grateful for – my family, my friends, my work, my community, and last but not least, rochester. i’ve lived here for more than a decade now and i’m still stunned daily by the awesome people who call rochester home. who cares about the snow.

a thin wall

February 10, 2015: “partition stories” was the working title of our film. the final title has now been locked down. it’s “a thin wall” – words from john siddique’s “six snapshots of partition” in which he says:

Partition: sounds like a thin wall made of simple materials between rooms that can easily be taken down. Take the word in your left hand and feel its weight. It is nothing – a few sheets of paper.

we are working on our closing credits right now. the film will be handed over to NXT media and west rush productions for the final polishing up and sound engineering in a couple of days! pls “like” our fb page and feel free to “share”!

Tino Sehgal’s This situation

first rehearsal today at the sage art center for “this situation,” a live work by contemporary artist, tino sehgal. each performance involves 6 “interpreters” or participants who produce a series of collective tableaux. the piece is meticulously choreographed yet supple in how it revolves around extemporaneous conversations between the 6 interpreters and interactions with visitors. trying to get a hang of all the quotes we are supposed to know by heart and all the positions we have to fall back into and all the rules of how this live piece works. fascinating. more here.

the muslims i know at OASIS

screened “the muslims i know” at an OASIS class today. the room was jam-packed with people who introduced themselves as christians, jews, atheists, and even “confused.” a lot of great questions. a jewish woman told me how her iranian neighbor called her after the paris attacks to tell her that she didn’t support them. “why would she think she needed to do that,” she asked, “we’re best friends.” it was a rhetorical question. i told her that is indeed the burden we must bear as muslims these days, especially those of us who live in the west. even tho we have nothing to do with free agents who sometimes claim to be muslim and have all kinds of political agendas and behave in all sorts of bizarre ways, we are supposed to identify with them, explain them, apologize for them. we didn’t elect them. there was no referendum on who we’d like to represent us, as a major world religion. but each and everyone of us is forced to speak for 1.6 billion people. it’s obscene. 14 years after 9/11, i am tired of explaining. i am tired of debating the humanity of muslims. frankly, the debate itself is offensive. another woman told me she felt heartened by the paris march: “finally, we can come together and say no more.” no more of only one kind of violence tho, i told her. “of course,” she said, “no one is going to push back against american violence.” there u go i said, u just articulated the hypocrisy of the march. all in all, it was a great audience – curious, open-minded, respectful. if only msm would cover such honest, heartfelt conversations rather than closed door tête-à-têtes with the duck dynasty.

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