NEWS
& UPDATES 2005
Press Releases: 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007
• Zahra
Pictures launches the "On
Common Grounds" Interfaith Community Program
• Join
use at the '05 ISNA Convention in Chicago September 2-5
• Zahra Pictures will release "Uncle Abdo's Stories", an Arabic animation series
• Hallmark
to re-air On Common Grounds June 26
• Zahra
Pictures will release Osama Al-Zain's "Transparency
• Zahra
Pictures joined actor Tony Shalhoub in the '05 Arab-American
Filmmaker Competition
10/06/05
Zahra
Pictures launches the "On Common Grounds" Interfaith
Community Program...
Inspired by the film "On Common Grounds", this
program aims to encourage people to GET INVOLVED in interfaith
and cross-cultural organizations and activities that promote
peace and understanding within their communities. Zahra
Pictures will help facilitate by providing a
companion web page with resource information, links to national
interfaith organizations and a FREE DVD offer. More...
8/22/05 Join
us at the '05 ISNA Convention in Chicago September
2-5...
Zahra Pictures will participate in the 42nd Annual
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Convention
held in Chicago metro area September 2-5, 2005 at the
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 555 N. River Road,
Rosemont, IL 60018. Please visit our booth #
1432 at the convention bazaar to check out latest DVD's
and a chance to meet Producer, Ahmad Zahra. For more
on ISNA: www.isna.net
8/22/05 Zahra
Pictures will release "Uncle Abdo's Stories", an
Arabic animation series...
Zahra Pictures will release "Uncle Abdo's Stories", an
Arabic animation series by Jordanian production company
Green Dome Animation. The series features stories inspired
by Islamic traditions and will be subtitled into
English to help children learn Arabic while enjoying
the captivating images. The series will be released on
3 DVD's, the first of which will be available this coming
Ramadan season in October.
6/1/05
Hallmark
to re-air On Common Grounds June 26...
On Common Grounds will air once more on the Hallmark Channel
on June 26, 2005 at 12 noon P/E as part of their
weekly show "The World of Faith and Values." On Common
Grounds has also aired on Bridges TV, the Muslim
American channel, receiving high ratings
and positive audience feedback. The film is now available
on DVD. More...
5/31/05
Zahra
Pictures will release Osama Al-Zain's "Transparency...
Zahra Pictures picked up the rights for "Transparency",
East Coast Filmmaker Osama Al-Zain's award winning
documentary. "Transparency" explores the topic
of "Hijab", the Islamic dress code for women, through
a series of interviews with Muslim Women and asks a
fundamental question: Is the Hijab a form of oppression
or a woman's expression of faith?. Al-Zain tries
to show the different views, leaving the audience with
many thoughts to ponder. The film makes a good
dialogue piece for the topic. Zahra will release the film
on DVD June 24, 2005 with a study guide as
a DVD special feature to facilitate further discussion.
More...
5/30/05
Zahra
Pictures joined actor Tony Shalhoub in the '05 Arab-American
Filmmaker Competition...
Zahra Pictures joined ranks with Emmy Award winning actor
Tony Shalhoub, The Network of Arab American Professionals
(NAAP) and Zoom-in-Focus Productions to co-sponsor the
2005 Arab-American Filmmaker Award Competition! NAAP
established this Competition in collaboration with the
Emmy Award-winning actor in order to encourage young Arab
American Filmmakers and provide them with a vehicle through
which to realize their goals. NAAP was pleased to
announce the winners of this years competition at a gala
dinner held last month. From over 60 screenplays submitted
to the competition, the winners are:
1st Place - MUSH By: Asma May Fouathia, New
York, NY
2nd Place - DISAPPEARED By: Nizar Wattad, LA, CA
3rd Place - A MINNESOTA CHRISTMAS By: Alia
Yunis, Santa Monica, CA
The first place winner will be sent to Hollywood to have
her film produced. A minimum of $15,000 of funds
raised from the competition will be used to pay for her
travel expenses and film production. The Second
and Third place winners are invited to aid in the production
of the winning film, allowing them to gain experience
and build valuable industry relationships. Zahra
Pictures will produce the winning film with Zoom-in-Focus
Productions, in addition to providing a distribution deal for
the winning filmmaker. Production is set to
begin in July and will take place in Los Angeles.
More on Tony Shalhoub http://www.usanetwork.com/series/monk/
More on NAAP http://www.naaponline.org/filmmaker/screenplay.asp
