Photo courtesy of Iman Zawahry.

Category: Visuals
Film-making
Country: United States

About

Iman Zawahry was born in Panama City, Florida in 1980. From a young age, Iman felt a pull towards filmmaking.  As a teenager, she created spoof productions of the Arsenio Hall Show and 90210, complete with commercial breaks starring friends. Although she originally planned on pursuing Islamic studies, Iman gravitated towards filmmaking as a way to allow her to pursue activism. She focuses on creating comedic films about the American Muslim experience since she believes that humor is the best approach for tackling serious issues. She says:

“Once an audience member is able to laugh at something that would normally make them uncomfortable, they are able to let go of their previous prejudice and begin on the path of understanding. When you see a Muslim police detective, who wears a scarf, chasing a pig and covered in pig pen mud, you are able to forget the negative connotation [that a] Muslim equals [a] terrorist. Instead you see a Muslim as a person who deals and tackles the same issues as everyone else.”

Iman has worked as a freelance journalist with Bridges TV, the first American Muslim television network, and today Iman has directed and written several films including Under Cover, Tough Crowd, The Cape, and Neighbors of Mass Destruction.  Her third film Tough Crowd, which chronicled the journey of an aspiring female Muslim stand-up comic, won an Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Student Emmy Award and the Award of Merit at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Tough Crowd also qualified as a finalist in the NBC Comedy Short Cuts where Iman was a finalist to pitch a sitcom with NBC executives. Consequently, the Directors-In-Training program at NBC nominated Iman for its exclusive program.

Iman was also a recipient of the exclusive Princess Grace Award and completed shooting her fourth film Under Cover that she produced, directed, and co-wrote. Under Cover has been awarded Best Short in six festivals, along with Best Director and many nominations.  Iman is currently writing a feature film with the stand-up comedians from Allah Made Me Funny.