Lisa Donato & Fawzia Mirza In Person – Signature Move – 2017
Lisa Donato & Fawzia Mirza In Person
Friday, April 7, 7:15 PM
Signature Move
Director: Jennifer Reeder
Narrative
80 min
USA
A secret new romance with Alma forces Zaynab to confront her complicated relationship with her recently widowed mother. In this coming-of-age Muslim melodrama, Zaynab copes by taking up Lucha-style wrestling.
Fawzia Mirza was named a “Top 10 Creative” by Indiewire Magazine, one of Chicago’s “Rising Stars” of indie filmmaking by WBEZ, a 2015 recipient of the 3Arts Award in Acting. Ellen Degeneres named her one of “8 Queer Muslim Women Defying Donald Trump”. She has produced, starred in and written award-winning short films, videos and web series that have screened at film festivals all over the world. She believes in using comedy to create social impact and break down stereotypes across race, gender, sexual orientation and defying the idea of the “model minority”.
Lisa Donato is a writer, director, and activist based in Austin, Texas. Her award-winning work has screened at over hundreds of film, music, and art festivals worldwide.
Story and directing credits include shows for National Geographic Wild, The Oprah Winfrey Network, PBS, published personal essays in The LA Times, Self Magazine, Curve Magazine, Whole Life Times, 5280 Magazine and multiple short films and music videos.
She founded the independent film studio, Sparkle Motion Films, which specializes in bringing social awareness to marginalized communities.