As WCI’s ALWANE program continues to grow and develop in sixteen different countries across the Middle East and North Africa, a group of Philadelphians were treated to a small insight into the lives of three strong women from the region. On Sunday June 10th, Cinémathèque Internationale of Philadelphia, WCI and Project Nur teamed up to present a screening of Bridgid Maher’s documentary Veiled Voices. Maher’s film tells the story of three influential women: Ghina Hammoud of Lebanon, Dr. Su’ad Saleh of Egypt and Huda al-Habash of Syria. The documentary, which includes interviews with these women’s family and friends, challenges traditional views of the role of female leaders in Islam.
Maher, a full-time professor of Film and Media Arts, spoke to the audience after the film’s conclusion, explaining the film’s inspiration before answering questions from the audience. She described everything from the challenges she faced during filming, to her recent Facebook chats with the inspiring children of the film’s stars.
For anyone interested in learning more about women's advancement in the Middle East region, Maher’s documentary Veiled Voices provides unique insight into the lives of three Islamic women leaders. For more detailed information on the film, please visit: http://www.veiledvoices.com/
When in the Philadelphia-area, be sure to look out for upcoming film screenings put on by Cinémathèque Internationale, a film program that shows diverse foreign films in intimate venues throughout Center City. For more information on upcoming screenings, please visit Cinematheque International's website.