al imam

Description

Official Selection
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Cleveland Int’l Film Festival
American Cinematheque Annual Shorts
Carmel Int’l Film Festival
United Nations Association Film Festival
Berkeley Video & Film Festival,
Calgary’s Documentary Film Festival
Athena Film Festival
Annapolis Film Festival

Synopsis

Despite controversy and threats, Muslim spiritual leader Ani Zonneveld takes a stand for justice through activism and a progressive practice of Islam. Enduring threats, excommunication from family, and opposition from many fellow Muslims, she insists that the Qur’an is a progressive text and believes in an egalitarian view of Islam.

Director

Omar Al Dakheel was born and raised in Kuwait. He moved to the US at 17 after receiving a full merit scholarship to the University of Miami. After graduating with a BA in Theatre Arts and a BS in Broadcast Journalism, he worked at Al Jazeera English TV Channel in Washington, DC. Omar then realized that his true passion was in Film and went on to earn his MFA at the USC School of Cinematic Arts where he immersed himself in all aspects of Filmmaking.

At USC Omar made his first short film ‘The Trojan’ about a war-scarred refugee hiding inside a sports mascot, and it was selected for the CAA Diversity program. Omar then made “Jihad in Hollywood”, featuring Werner Herzog, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Kuwait Int’l Film Festival. He also directed “Al imam”, following one of the world’s few female Imams, which premiered at the Hot Springs Doc Film Festival. His latest narrative film, “Ablution,” starring the renowned Arab star Jay Abdo, premiered at Austin Film Festival in Oct 2017.

Omar is based in Los Angeles. His goal is to tell diverse stories with universal values that can bridge the gap between the East and the West.