Talks at Google | Stranger at the Gate | Joshua Seftel, Bibi Bahrami and Richard McKinney | Talks at Google @talksatgoogle | Uploaded 1 year ago | Updated 8 hours ago
Joshua Seftel, Bibi Bahrami & Richard Mckinney discuss their documentary short Stranger At The Gate, a story of grace, transformation and hope.
From executive producer Malala, the film follows an Afghan refugee named Bibi Bahrami—and the members of her little Indiana mosque—as they come face to face with a U.S. Marine who has secret plans to bomb their community center, before his plans take an unexpected turn.
Watch the film here: https://goo.gle/3OD2CTV.
About the panelists
Joshua Seftel is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for directing the Emmy-winning landmark series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the feature film War, Inc. starring John Cusack, Marisa Tomei and Ben Kingsley, and his regular appearances on CBS Sunday Morning where he interviews his 86-year-old mother. Stranger at the Gate, Executive Produced by Malala Yousafzai and nominated for an Academy Award® in 2023, is the latest film in Seftel’s Emmy and Peabody-nominated Secret Life of Muslims project (SXSW), which combats Islamophobia with filmmaking. Seftel, who experienced antisemitism as a child, has been committed to working on this subject matter for the past seven years. He is also a contributor to the Peabody Award-winning podcast This American Life and The New York Times.
Bibi Bahrami was born and raised in Behsood, Afghanistan. She came to Muncie, Indiana in 1986 as a refugee to join her husband, Dr. Saber Bahrami, where they raised 6 beautiful children and have both been an active part of their community for over 36 years. After learning English and earning her GED, she went on to receive her art degree from Ball State University. In 2002, she founded and became president of her own nonprofit organization, AWAKEN, (Afghan Women’s And Kids’ Education & Necessities), in order to give back to the Afghan women and children she left behind. AWAKEN has made a difference in the education and health care for thousands of Afghan women and children for over a decade. Last year, Bibi founded MARRC (Muncie Afghan Refugee Resettlement committee), a sub-committee under AWAKEN. Through MARRC, Bibi brought the entire community together to assist with the dire need of resettlement of 137 Afghan refugees to help them thrive in Muncie. Bibi is the recipient of numerous awards for her charitable work, including the Indiana Women of Achievement Award and Ball State’s International Development Award. She was most recently nominated for an Academy Award with the film Stranger At the Gate, which shares a message of the strength of kindness to change lives.
Richard McKinney is a U.S. Marine Corps and Army Veteran. After 25 years in the armed services, and several tours in the Middle East, McKinney came back to the U.S. filled with rage towards Muslims. In what he viewed as a final mission for his country, McKinney planned and built an IED to blow up the Muncie Islamic Center. Then, a fateful trip to the Mosque, where he was welcomed by the local Muslim community, changed the course of his life; and eventually became the President and leader of the Mosque. He started his own business called From Hate to Understanding, where he travels and speaks about his journey and changing the narrative. Mac's incredible journey of personal growth and enlightenment is truly inspiring.
Moderated by Karina Govindji.
Joshua Seftel, Bibi Bahrami & Richard Mckinney discuss their documentary short Stranger At The Gate, a story of grace, transformation and hope.
From executive producer Malala, the film follows an Afghan refugee named Bibi Bahrami—and the members of her little Indiana mosque—as they come face to face with a U.S. Marine who has secret plans to bomb their community center, before his plans take an unexpected turn.
Watch the film here: https://goo.gle/3OD2CTV.
About the panelists
Joshua Seftel is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for directing the Emmy-winning landmark series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the feature film War, Inc. starring John Cusack, Marisa Tomei and Ben Kingsley, and his regular appearances on CBS Sunday Morning where he interviews his 86-year-old mother. Stranger at the Gate, Executive Produced by Malala Yousafzai and nominated for an Academy Award® in 2023, is the latest film in Seftel’s Emmy and Peabody-nominated Secret Life of Muslims project (SXSW), which combats Islamophobia with filmmaking. Seftel, who experienced antisemitism as a child, has been committed to working on this subject matter for the past seven years. He is also a contributor to the Peabody Award-winning podcast This American Life and The New York Times.
Bibi Bahrami was born and raised in Behsood, Afghanistan. She came to Muncie, Indiana in 1986 as a refugee to join her husband, Dr. Saber Bahrami, where they raised 6 beautiful children and have both been an active part of their community for over 36 years. After learning English and earning her GED, she went on to receive her art degree from Ball State University. In 2002, she founded and became president of her own nonprofit organization, AWAKEN, (Afghan Women’s And Kids’ Education & Necessities), in order to give back to the Afghan women and children she left behind. AWAKEN has made a difference in the education and health care for thousands of Afghan women and children for over a decade. Last year, Bibi founded MARRC (Muncie Afghan Refugee Resettlement committee), a sub-committee under AWAKEN. Through MARRC, Bibi brought the entire community together to assist with the dire need of resettlement of 137 Afghan refugees to help them thrive in Muncie. Bibi is the recipient of numerous awards for her charitable work, including the Indiana Women of Achievement Award and Ball State’s International Development Award. She was most recently nominated for an Academy Award with the film Stranger At the Gate, which shares a message of the strength of kindness to change lives.
Richard McKinney is a U.S. Marine Corps and Army Veteran. After 25 years in the armed services, and several tours in the Middle East, McKinney came back to the U.S. filled with rage towards Muslims. In what he viewed as a final mission for his country, McKinney planned and built an IED to blow up the Muncie Islamic Center. Then, a fateful trip to the Mosque, where he was welcomed by the local Muslim community, changed the course of his life; and eventually became the President and leader of the Mosque. He started his own business called From Hate to Understanding, where he travels and speaks about his journey and changing the narrative. Mac's incredible journey of personal growth and enlightenment is truly inspiring.
Moderated by Karina Govindji.
