The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released the latest episode of its weekly podcast CAIR on AIR. The episode features filmmaker and screenwriter Akram Shibly, and explores ‘Thank You for Thinking of Me’, his new documentary which follows the aftermath of a tragedy during a Black Lives Matter protest in Buffalo in 2020.
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Akram discusses the story behind his documentary and the tragic incident that brought two people together whose lives were forever changed. We discuss the importance of trust and care in documentary filmmaking, including how he balanced capturing the family’s experiences with respecting their privacy and personal boundaries. Our conversation covers the misrepresentation of Muslims in the media, the importance of authentic storytelling, and why Muslim filmmakers should have the freedom to tell diverse stories about their communities. Akram explains the challenges of independent filmmaking and the responsibility of Muslim institutions to support artists. He also reveals how to pursue a creative career without taking unnecessary financial risks.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]