Synopsis

Fourteen centuries after the revelation of the holy Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islam today is the world's second largest and fastest growing religion. Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma travels the many worlds of this dynamic faith discovering the stories of its most unlikely storytellers: lesbian and gay Muslims.

Filmed over 5 1/2 years, in 12 countries and 9 languages, "A Jihad for Love" comes from the heart of Islam. Looking beyond a hostile and war-torn present, this film seeks to reclaim the Islamic concept of a greater Jihad, which can mean 'an inner struggle' or 'to strive in the path of God'. In doing so the film and its remarkable subjects move beyond the narrow concept of 'Jihad' as holy war.

Special features include Behind the Scenes, Director’s Interview, New Footage from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and 8 language subtitle options - Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Hindi, Turkish, French, Spanish, and English.

Region-free DVD, NTSC.
84 minutes. Color.

Note: This is for private home use only. For non-theatrical or theatrical screenings (festivals, theaters, universities, conferences, organizations, schools, NGO's), you must obtain a Public Performance License. Please send an email to parvezsharma@gmail.com and sandi@filmsthatchangetheworld.com to obtain permission.

Festivals

World Premiere - Toronto International Film Festival

European Premiere - Berlin Film Festival, Opening Night, Panorama

"Critics' pick! Eye-opening, brave, brutally honest." - New York Magazine

"Revealing and moving!... A gifted filmmaker" - Wall Street Journal

"Lifts the veil of secrecy." - National Public Radio

"Courageous...invaluable!" - Boston Globe

"Fascinating, provocative!" - San Francisco Chronicle

"Provocative, deeply felt and emotionally complex." - Village Voice

"Heartfelt... Nail-biting!" - The New York Times

"A powerful, important documentary." - Film Journal International

"Illuminating! Joins two other very fine documentaries about faith and homosexuality: For the Bible Tells Me So and Trembling Before G-d." - Denver Post

Winner GLAAD Media Award for Best Documentary
Best Film - TriContinental Film Festival, India
Best Documentary - MIX Festival, Brasil
Best Documentary - Image + Nation, Montreal
Best Documentary - EuroArab Film Festival, Spain

Production Credits & Notes

A film by Parvez Sharma
Directed by Parvez Sharma
Produced by Sandi DuBowski and Parvez Sharma

Executive Producers - Michael Huffington, Andrew Herwitz, Linda Saetre, Eileen Opatut, Dave Mace

Produced by Halal Films in Association With ZDF-Arte, Channel 4 Television, SBS Australia, Logo, Sundance Documentary Fund, The Katahdin Foundation

Directors of Cinematography - Parvez Sharma, Berke Bas

Editor - Juliet Weber

Creative Consultant - Peter Friedman

Composers - Richard Horowitz, Sussan Deyhim