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Independent Iraqi Film Festival plays Baba Boom Boom

‘Usama’s Alshaibi’s experimental short film Baba Boom Boom (2016) takes us to the heart of the city, where we listen to folkloric music from Iraq performed by Alshaibi’s characterful father and meditate on the rich oral traditions within Iraqi culture’

Coming soon! Go to https://iiffestival.com/

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Q&A with Usama for Best of Chicago Underground Film Festival

Today is my Q and A for the Best of Chicago Underground Film Festival for my documentary American Arab. Join me at 7pm Chicago time. Click here.

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American Arab at Best of CUFF Virtual Fest

The Chicago Underground Film Festival has been playing my films since 1998! Holy shit. If it wasn’t for Bryan and CUFF I would not be who I am today. They asked me if I had any fun stories about CUFF… and I have so many. Some are epic and shall not be repeated and others I can barely remember, lol. But it was my friendships and connections with all the wonderful folks at CUFF, and the filmmakers that I feel a kinship with– it was an extension of everything that I loved about Chicago and this more fringe set of filmmakers. They were like me.

I was looking forward to a road trip this summer with Talia to visit again and play our latest work. But we have the coronavirus now and everything has been cancelled… but CUFF hangs on and they are playing the Best of CUFF virtually. This is an opportunity to see my documentary American Arab and other phenomenal films!

This is not expensive and pay what you can if you can’t afford the festival pass. From CUFF: We’ve set complete festival passes at just $30 with a suggested individual program ticket at $10 but individual programs are “pay what you can.”

So check out my film and other films by some of the most innovative and wild filmmakers today. Remember that corporate media controls over 90% of everything you watch and it is a gift when venues like CUFF show work on the margins of culture.

As long as I make films I hope to always play at the Chicago Underground Film Festival. It is in my blood and in my spirit.

https://watch.eventive.org/cu…/play/5efccf476ff4e0003e8aea9b

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The Desire Virtual World Premiere at Revelation Perth International Film Festival

The Desire will be having a virtual world premiere at the Revelation Perth International Film Festival COUCHED program which will run online from July 9-19.

COUCHED offers tailored viewing experiences to 30+ of the finest features and documentaries from across the world. In addition, it will feature live panels, talks, presentations and short films. In fact, as close to a full festival experience as possible.

Films will be available for rent for a 24 hour period through the fest. Tickets and passes are on sale now. https://revcouched.eventive.org/films/5ef80077e44f0f004c5fb7e6

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Usama Talk Now on Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/…/podcast/usama-talk/id1452116042
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Usama Talk – The Spring Pandemic

Audio stories and reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic from March 14th to April 26th, 2020.

Voices from Usama Alshaibi, Talia Watrous and Muneera Alshaibi. Additional media clips include Doctor Facui, Doctor Suraj Saggar and Donald Trump with reporters.

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HIDDEN VISIONS: Snapshots of Contemporary Independent Cinema

My two short films, The Flowering and Dream of Samarra, are both playing Friday, November 8 at 10pm at the Spectacle Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. This is part of a program curated by Chris Bell, titled HIDDEN VISIONS: Snapshots of Contemporary Independent Cinema.
More info here. 

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The Flowering playing in Croatia

Check out Kino Klub Split, a film society in Croatia, holding weekly screenings and they’ve been playing many of my films all year. This week they will be showing my short film The Flowering, part of a group show on September 13th.
More info here.

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Broadcasting on Chicago Lumpen Radio

My podcasts, Usama Talk, will be airing on Lumpen Radio! Playing on the FM dial in Chicago 105.5, and streaming on lumpenradio.com this Friday morning and re-broadcasting Saturday morning at 11am Chicago time.

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The Muslim Meme at the Roxie Theater for Filmmakers Unite

The Muslim Meme will be playing at the Roxie Theatre
Press Release:

Dear Friends,
We are excited to announce a week-long theatrical run of Filmmakers Unite (FU) at the Roxie Theatre in San Francisco, October 6- 11, 2018!

Filmmakers Unite (FU): a collective response from independent filmmakers to current threats to our democracy, freedom of speech, and civil rights.

Advance tickets recommended here.