SQIFF Shorts: Queer Islam with Hidayah

A series of shorts made over several decades following queer Muslim characters as they navigate familial relationships, romantic love, and their careers. A budding filmmaker collaborates with his conservative Muslim father on a film about an iconic Muslim actor. The love between a disabled Muslim father and his queer son is tested when love is pitted against religion. Two brothers stand by each other in the face of adversity. An Arab American man learns how to love again post-heartbreak. And a rising martial arts star tries to hides her identity from her family and her small American town when under the spotlight.

Join us for a discussion after the screening with members of LGBTQIA+ Muslim charity Hidayah. Part of our strand on queerness and religion, You Gotta Have Faith.

Tickets are priced on a sliding scale £0-£8 depending on what you can afford. To book, please use the button below or call CCA box office on +44 (0)141 352 4900.

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ACCESS

This screening has an age recommendation of N/C 12+.

Films have a mixture of English and Arabic audio with English language subtitles/captions. The discussion will be BSL interpreted. Hearing loop available.

Around half the films are relatively accessible to English-speaking blind and partially sighted audiences with explanatory dialogue and relatively bright images. Large print versions of handouts available.

CCA has good access for wheelchair users, gender neutral toilets, and welcomes assistance animals. Click here for CCA’s Accessibility Guide.

A Quiet Space and programme content notes will be available. Click here for a list of content notes for the 2019 Festival.

Comfy seating (bean bags) are available. If you would like to reserve this, please contact access@sqiff.org.

We have a limited travel fund to assist people to come to the Festival for those who could not otherwise afford to attend. If you would like to apply for this, please contact access@sqiff.org.

Tickets

In order to make SQIFF more accessible to those on a low income, we use a sliding scale ticket price of £0-£8 for our events. You can choose what you pay based on your circumstances – you won’t be asked for any proof / ID, we just ask that you are honest! Our ticket sales go towards supporting the vital work of LGBTQ+ filmmakers, artists and organisers. If you have a free ticket and can no longer use it, please contact the relevant venue box office to let them know so it can be used by someone else. For more info on what you should pay, click here.

Surviving Sabu (16m)
Dir: Ian Iqbal Rashid, Country: UK, Year: 1997, Language/s: English
Funded by the Arts Council of England as part of its Moving Image series of films about ethnic identity in Britain, Ian Iqbal Rashid’s debut short deservedly won him various industry accolades upon its release. Its sympathetic depiction of a strained relationship between a budding gay filmmaker and his conservative Muslim father as they collaborate on a film about Indian star Sabu – best known for his contribution to British cinema in the 1930s and 40s – is steered by exceptional performances from Suresh Oberoi and Navin Chowdry.

Content note: Depiction of homophobia; discussion of racism and mental health issues.

Ablution (15m)
Dir: Omar Al Dakheel, Country: USA, Year: 2017, Language/s: English, Arabic
Waleed washes his disabled father Khaled five times a day for Muslim prayer. But, when Waleed’s sexuality is revealed, both father and son are torn between religion, duty, and self.

Content note: Depiction of homophobia and drug use.

Brothers (9m)
Dir: Mike Mosallam, Country: USA, Year: 2018, Language/s: None
Brothers follows a Muslim Arab boy who realizes he is different, and is fortunate to have an older brother who stands by him and encourages him to be himself in the face of bias and adversity.

Content note: Depicion of homophobi.

Breaking Fast (18m)
Dir: Mike Mosallam, Country: USA, Year: 2015, Language/s: English, Arabic
Breaking Fast is a romantic comedy drama following Mo, an Arab American man living in West Hollywood learning how to navigate life post-heartbreak. Enter Kal, a sweet All-American guy who surprises Mo by offering to break fast with him during the month of Ramadan. As they learn more about each other, they fall in love over what they have in common, and what they don’t.

Content note:  Discussion of suicide.

Choke (16m)
Dir: Rolla Selbak, Country: USA, Year: 2018, Language/s: English, Arabic
A rising MMA star hides her refugee status from her small American town and the world.

Content note: Depiction of racism, violence, sexism, and homophobia.