Three worlds collide during a racist attack, leaving a Muslim scholar fighting for his life. Now they must face the storm before the calm – and they call it ‘Islamophobia’.
As featured on BBC Breakfast and BBC Worldwide – July/August 2017
Freesia Trailer: here
NEWS: August 2021. Freesia will be part of the line-up at Thurrock Film Festival, from 27 August – 29 August 2021. Freesia is to be screened on 28 August at 8pm (UK time). More details of how to watch is available here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/thurrock-film-festival-2021-screening-event-tickets-167311690771
Head to watch.paus.tv or download paus app on Android & iOS for an exclusive opportunity to watch the premiere screenings of a series of incredible films from the Thurrock Film Festival. The screenings are free to attend and stream, but we encourage you to show your appreciation for the films by leaving a tip, which will go directly to the filmmaker.
NEWS: Proud to announce there will be a screening of Freesia at the Rotherham Underground Cinema on Sunday, April 15th, in partnership with Rotherham Stand Up To Racism, followed by Q&A.
2pm – 5pm
Sunday, April 15th 2018
11 Corporation Street
South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
This will mark the end of our UK theatrical run after a successful run across various cities:
#Bradford Picturehouse
#Birmingham Odeon
#Manchester AMC
#Leeds Vue
#ShepherdsBush Vue
#Sheffield Vue
#Glasgow Odeon
#Cardiff Vue
#Cambridge Arts Picturehouse
Arakan Creative in association with Film Volt Ltd.
News: On February 13th 2018 we were fortunate to partner with Bristol University to have a private screening with students, followed by a Q&A session. Our thanks to the team for arranging the evening.
NEWS: On January 6th January 2018 Freesia premiered in Cape Town, South Africa, courtesy of The Open Mosque and followed by a Q&A via video link. A truly wonderful reception and talked to some amazing people. Many thanks for your time and kind words.
God bless.
NEWS: Very pleased to announce Conor Ibrahiem won the ‘Best Producer – Male’ award from the Out of the Can Film Festival for his work producing Freesia. Many thanks judges!
NEWS: July 28th 2017 – Freesia featured on BBC Breakfast this morning, many thanks to them and the team at Radio Leeds.
A link to the BBC Breakfast interview can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/arakancreative/videos/pcb.1713381118702201/1713262678714045/?type=3&theater
NEWS: June 27th 2017 – We are happy to announce the cinema release for Freesia, the first UK movie to address Islamophobia.
We strongly encourage you to book tickets in advance, as all screenings are single performances and we cannot guarantee seats will be available if you pay on the door.
Spread the word!
Freesia is dedicated to Mohammed Saleem of Birmingham, UK, who was murdered in an Islamophobic attack in 2013. God rest you sir.
NEWS: April 3rd 2017 – We have pleasure in announcing that Freesia has secured a theatrical release at selected UK cinemas!
Dates and venues shall be announced soon, at which time I ask that you kindly share the tour info with all your contacts so we can reach the widest possible audience.
Many thanks!
NEWS: November 5th 2016 – Arakan is very pleased to announce that Freesia shall be screened at Princeton University in New Jersey! Our thanks to Khadi Madama and Robia Amjad for arranging this and for those who are able to attend, please see the flyer for more details:
NEWS: November 3rd 2016 – Freesia gains its 14th film festival selection as an Official Finalist at the Yosemite Film Festival, USA. Many thanks judges!
NEWS: October 1st 2016 – Thrilled to report we have secured our 3rd win, this time from the Auckland International Film festival for ‘Best First Time Filmmaker’! Thank you judges.
NEWS: August 1st 2016 – Many thanks to the Canadian Diversity Film Festival for awarding us with ‘Best New Filmmaker’, July 2016!
NEWS: July 29th 2016 – Two official selections in one day! Many thanks with sugar on top to the Canadian Diversity Film Festival and Chandler International Film Festival for selecting Freesia!
NEWS: July 1st 2016 – A great way to end the week with more good news – we have been blessed with our 10th official selection and this time with the South Texas International Film Festival!
Humbled…grateful…Masha’Allah
NEWS: June 28th 2016 – Absolute pleasure to announce Freesia has gained official selection from the Swedish International Film Festival! Many thanks to SIFF and the judges!
NEWS: March 22nd 2016 – Very happy to announce another official selection with the Riverside International Film Festival 2016, based in California. Many many thanks to the jury for this honour.
NEWS: March 17th 2016 – In addition to an Official Selection with the ModCon London Film Festival, we are thrilled that Freesia was nominated for ‘Best Screenplay’ and ‘Best Trailer’! That makes our second nomination in such categories and although the awards escaped our reach, we are extremely grateful to have been nominated. A million thanks to the festival team!
NEWS: 24th March 2016 – Bradford UNESCO City of Film and Arakan Creative held the Bradford Premiere of Freesia. Many thanks to David Wilson of City of Film and Bradford Council (City Hall) for hosting the film.
NEWS: 26th February 2016 – Conor Ibrahiem attended the London International Film Festival in which Freesia was nominated in 3 categories! Alas no wins but to be up there amongst filmmakers and quality films from around the world (Japan, Tunisia, Thailand, USA, Canada etc.) was a real privilege and massive congrats to all the winners!
Thank you also to the Film Fest judges for shortlisting Freesia!
NEWS: 30th January 2016 -The Freesia trailer has just been nominated for:
‘Best Trailer’
‘Best Score’
‘Best Editing’
Many thanks to the judges at the Focus International Film Festival!
NEWS: 11th December 2015 – We are blessed with more good news! We have just received our 4th official selection with the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema in London!
We were nominated in 3 categories:
1) Best Original Screenplay for a Feature Film
2) Best Original Score
3) Best Director
Thank you to the festival judges for these honours, the cast, crew, supporters, funders and God almighty!
Chuffed. To. Bits.
NEWS: 4th December 2015 – By God’s grace we have secured our first award! The Accolade Global Film Competition in the USA has given Freesia an ‘Award of Merit’ and we are truly grateful for this honour.
NEWS: 31st October 2015 – Great news, we have received an official selection with the Equality International Film Festival in Sacramento, California!
NEWS: 5th October 2015 – We have pleasure in announcing our very first official selections with the Miami Independent Film Festival and Los Angeles CineFest! We are proud and honoured to be selected amongst the other independent filmmakers from around the world. Both are online festivals and judged by industry professionals, not the general public.
To view the trailer:
MANY THANKS!!
Conor and the Freesia team
Background…
Our plan was to produce 3 short films that look at contemporary issues that feed into Islamophobia. However the idea gained momentum to include a wider objective – to produce a multi-narrative feature film. This was achieved by weaving the stories together through key scenes and thereby giving us a 91-minute movie to release to film festivals and, God-willing, a much wider audience beyond.
The genre is Social Realism and the aim is not only to deliver an engaging story but sow seeds of positive change. The power of film is clear – the power of making a difference is down to the audience.
Over 13 days throughout June 2014 our cast of 34 actors and 15 crew members helped make Arakan’s first venture in film a reality. We are extremely thankful to them and we hope to work with them again soon.
We would like to sincerely thank the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation for supporting this project.
Contact: conor@arakancreative.co.uk