Stranger at the Gate, USA 2021. R: N/A Bibi Bahrami, Richard "Mac" McKinney, Saber Bahrami, Dana McKinney, Emily McKinney, and Jomo William 30 Min, English

The screening (30 mins) will be followed by a Q&A with Director Joshua Seftel, hosted by Michelle Carey

An Afghan refugee named Bibi Bahrami – and the members of her little Indiana mosque –  encounter a U.S. Marine who has a secret plot to bomb their mosque. But when they come face to face, the Marine's plan takes an unexpected turn. A story of grace, transformation, and hope.

Joshua: For the past 8 years, Joshua Seftel has been using filmmaking to combat Islamophobia with his Emmy and Peabody-nominated series of short documentaries SECRET LIFE OF MUSLIMS (SXSW).

STRANGER AT THE GATE is the latest documentary short in his efforts. Seftel, who faced anti-Semitism as a child, has been deeply connected and committed to this subject matter. His previous films include TAKING ON THE KENNEDYS (POV), WAR INC (Tribeca), THE HOME TEAM (SXSW), and THE MANY SAD FATES OF MR. TOLEDANO (NYT Op-Docs, IDA Award Winner).

Michelle: Formerly Artistic Director at the Melbourne International Film Festival, since relocating to Europe Michelle Carey is a member of the selection committee at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, focusing on US, UK, (English-speaking) Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and a program advisor for the New York Film Festival. In 2021-2022 she was on the selection committee at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs / Directors' Fortnight at Cannes and was previously an editor at online journal Senses of Cinema (2002-2022). In 2017 she was honoured with the Chevalier de l'ordre des arts et des lettres.

"a remarkable story of redemption.”
– Matthew Carey, Deadline Hollywood

Trailer: