Subject: Cinema Diaspora presents "Uniting Communities" film screenings and events at Central Cinema Saturday, January 17 matinee at 4:00pm of "Shouting Silent" and 7:00pm evening screening of "Nazrah". Sunday, January 18, 2003 at 4:00pm "Nazrah" and 7:00pm showing of "Shouting Silent"

Contact: Stephanie Cholmondeley at Cinema Diaspora (206)860-7764 or info@cinemadiaspora.com

Kevin Spitzer at Central Cinema at (206)328-3230 or mail@central-cinema.com

Cinema has the power to bring truth. Truth of the filmmaker and subject both its complexity and its basic simple common denominator. Truth of reality. Truth of community to reach out and connect us as one to one another globally.

Cinema Diaspora has a commitment to the truth. To know that what effects one of us effects us all. Our soul cinema knows two things. That we refuse to ignore less visible and more needy humanitarian crises in favour of highly politicized, media events. And two — that we respond to these crises with resources that are appropriate and adequate to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.

"education is critical to closing the door on ignorance, poverty and suffering."

NAZRAH, A MUSLIM WOMAN'S PERSPECTIVE (Farah Nousheen, USA, 2003, 55min, documentary, DVD)

Muslim women are often spoken about but rarely do they speak for themselves. Nazrah changes that. In giving Muslim women this important platform to express themselves, Farah Nousheen has deftly made room for the diversity that exists among Muslim women. Nazrah is required viewing that offers a vital antidote to the all-prevailing stereotypical portrayals of Muslim women.
- Arabic Women's eNews

The experience of watching Nazrah is like reading a friend’s personal journal where heart not only influences but becomes form.
- MuslimWakeUp.com

Best Film Producer 2003
- National Muslim Women Association, www.namw.org

Filmed only a few months after September 11, 2001, Nazrah, A Muslim Woman's Perspective explores the perspectives of Muslim women on Islam and the global news involving Islam. Through spontaneous debates and personal interviews, Nazrah expresses contrasting opinions, common beliefs, and unique interpretations of each of the women featured in the film. Twelve women from different backgrounds, professions, across generations, speak on many aspects of their lives - faith, family, dating, ethnicity/culture, marriage, careers, feminism, travel, and more.

This is a unique local production featuring a complete Seattle based crew, music by local musicians, and most of the 12 women reside in the area. It also features the Central District area Islamic School of Seattle. Many NW organizations supported this project such as Chaya, Arab Film Distribution, and 911 Media Arts Center. Members of crew and women featured in the film will be present for the screening.

Farah says about Nazrah: My purpose wasn't to 'make a film.' I wanted to give voice to Muslim women. I chose film because that medium speaks to me most.

Filmmaker’s Salon

Farah Nousheen along with Malik Isasis are local filmmakers, will hold a panel discussion after the film.

Shouting Silent

Directors - Renee Rosen and Xoliswa Sithole, South Africa 2002, 50 minutes

Shouting Silent" explores the South African HIV/AIDS epidemic through the eyes of Xoliswa Sithole, an adult orphan who lost her mother to HIV/AIDS in 1996. Xoliswa journeys back home in search of other young women who have also lost their mothers to HIV/AIDS and are now struggling to raise themselves (and, in many cases, their siblings) on their own.

Sithole lyrically interweaves their unsettling stories with highly stylized imagery to help convey her own painful memories and document the grim statistics of HIV infection in Africa. These testimonials powerfully demonstrate how entire generations of young people are growing up without their parents and chronicles the devastating impact the AIDS pandemic is having on orphaned children in South Africa. An arresting and timely piece, "Shouting Silent" is also a cinematographic gem that artistically and meditatively captures how these young women are quickly slipping through the cracks of society.

New York African Film Festival

Washington DC Independent Film Festival, Grand Jury Prize

San Francisco Black Film Festival, 2nd Prize

South Africa Documentary Film Festival

Sithengi Film Festival, Cape Town, South Africa

"Cuts through the WHO reports and New York Times news stories about the AIDS epidemic in Africa…absolutely refutes the idea that AIDS is just an illness confined to the body. It shows, with heart and compassion, that AIDS is about families, their everyday lives, and the bodies left behind after death."
Patricia R. Zimmerman, Professor
Cinema Studies, Ithaca College

"…a moving, disconcerting, yet very truthful and personal portrayal of the devastating effect of AIDS on women in South Africa. A must see for everyone advocating for AIDS activism on an international level."
Michelle Materre, Media Consultant
Prof, Communications Dept, New School University

"…poignant, sensitive and candid…It deals with an often-told story in an innovative and intimate way."
Steven Markovitz
Encounters South African Documentary Film Festival

Tickets for this event are $7.00 available through our website or by phone. Food donations receive discount of $5.00. Members, students and seniors are $5.00. Central Cinema is located at 1411 21st Avenue, at the corner of 21st and Union. A raw industrial space and art studio to be transformed in 2004 into a full service independent movie theater. Go to www.central-cinema.com