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Time For Ilhan

The new inspiring and rousing documentary TIME FOR ILHAN, chronicles newly elected Congresswoman, and first ever Somali Muslim legislator, Ilhan Omar, as she seeks to redefine politics in America. TIME FOR ILHAN, which was recently nominated for Outstanding Documentary at the 2019 NAACP Image Awards, will be released on March 8, 2019 to coincide with International Women’s Day.

Director Norah Shapiro is bringing the film to audiences across the country beginning in March 8 on on DVD and VOD, and as part of the ‘TIME FOR ILHAN Take Action’ screening tour which she hopes will engage, activate and mobilize audiences as well as inspire more women, people of color, immigrants, and young people to join the movement for a more representative and reflective democracy. 

Ilhan Omar, a young, hijab-wearing mother of three, takes on two formidable opponents in a highly contested race for a seat in the Minnesota State Legislature. Up against a 43-year incumbent, Ilhan is the “outsider” – a Muslim, refugee, woman of color – who seeks to challenge the party’s status quo while simultaneously defying lingering gender norms within her own Muslim community.

TIME FOR ILHAN shadows Ilhan and her scrappy group of dedicated campaign staffers throughout the entire campaign’s dramatic uphill battle. A fresh and timely take on the classic American Dream, the film offers an inspiring, stereotype-busting portrait of one of America’s brightest new political stars, at the start of her meteoric ascent from political newcomer to becoming one of the first Muslim Women in the U.S. Congress. Her story, part of a larger, unprecedented wave of growing diversity in elected office around the country offers a powerful and transformative reminder of the reflective, representative democracy that is truly possible.

The goal with the TIME FOR ILHAN Take Action Screening Tour is to engage, activate and mobilize audiences to join the fight for a more representative, reflective democracy. Kicking off on International Women’s Day, March 9th, 2019, the filmmakers are partnering with grassroots groups, national organizations, schools and universities to host dynamic screening events that connect audiences with opportunities to take action in their own communities. 

Through a series of high-profile and smaller community events around the country, the TIME FOR ILHAN Take Action Tour aims to inspire and mobilize women, people of color, new Americans, young people, and others who have been historically excluded from the political process to join forces with those working to build a more reflective, representative democracy. These events will feature the film screening, panel discussions and a direct action component. In collaboration with national and local partners, the filmmakers will share Ilhan Omar’s inspiring story with diverse audiences in community settings

Special Note from the director on recent events:

“Our team is currently planning for a busy year of community and educational screenings aimed at inspiring more women, people of color, immigrants, and young people to join the movement for a more representative, reflective democracy. As part of the TIME FOR ILHAN screening tour, and as a progressive Jewish woman, I embrace the additional opportunity the recent events surrounding Ilhan have offered the film, to do what films do best: shed light on experiences different from our own, build empathy across difference, and inspire meaningful – and potentially transformative – discussions about hard topics, including antisemitism and islamophobia,” said Norah Shaprio, director of TIME FOR ILHAN.

The tour kicks-off on International Women’s Day weekend (March 7-9) with community screening events around the country throughout the month of March (Women’s History Month) and continuing on through 2019 and beyond. 

The film will also be released on all VOD platforms and DVD on March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day and ensure the film can be seen by as wide an audience as possible. A shortened version of the film is also being made available to schools nationwide to help inspire the next generation of leaders.

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