Poet Against Prejudice
Special Screening
Faiza Almontaser / Short Documentary / United States of America / 2014 / 26 min / Colour / DCP
In Arabic, English / Arabic, English subtitles
Interests: Women, Documentary, Biography, Social Issues, Youth, Immigration, Family, Identity, Creative Documentary, Poetic Documentary, Education
MENA Premiere
Synopsis
Seventeen-year-old Faiza Almontaser emigrated with her family from Yemen to New York City when she was in middle school. Her parents wanted to ensure a brighter future for her, but she had a lot to overcome, including being bullied because of her Islamic faith. Mentored by direct-cinema giant Albert Maysles, Faiza shows in her documentary how she has been able to inspire others through her courage, her humanity and her fierce poetry skills.
About the Directors
Faiza Almontaser was born in Yemen, and immigrated with her family to Brooklyn at the age of 10, where she was the only Muslim in her school. Determined to find her voice, she spent six months learning enough English to begin speaking out against the discrimination faced by her community. She attends Brooklyn International High School and works as a peer trainer with the Anti-Defamation League. ‘Poet Against Prejudice’, for which Almontaser was mentored by the legendary documentarist Albert Maysles, is her first film.
Credits
- Director
- Faiza Almontaser
- Screenwriter
- Faiza Almontaser
- Producer
- Albert Maysles
- Editor
- Jackie Salloum
- Music
- Javier Arau
- Cinematographer
- Faiza Almontaser
- Sales Company
- BYkids
- Production Company
- BYkids