Celebrities and dignitaries turn out to watch Anasy Media

Anasy Media's "The Tainted Veil" screened to over 75 invited guests at a private showing in London yesterday. The documentary is the collaboration of great minds documentary filmmaker veteran, Ovidio Salazar, Nahla Alfahad and Mazen Al Khayrat. "The Tainted Veil" looks into the origins of the Hijab, its place in societies today and its implications and effects over the centuries that has led it to become a source of endless debate worldwide.

Seen through the eyes of empowered women, the documentary portrays the stories of Muslims from around the world who tell their stories about their decisions to wear the veil, or not. Complimented by historical context presented by leading specialists and academics, the documentary seeks to introduce the audience to a choice of clothing that has had much misrepresentation over the years, and lay bare the facts about the Hijab.

Among the guests at the special red carpet event on Monday at Hampstead's Everyman cinema were Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, and the UAE Ambassador to London, Abdulrahman Ghanem Almutaiwee, CVO.

Also present at the event were British model and actress, Suki Waterhouse, and Designer and Tank Magazine's Executive Director, Caroline Issa. Guests were entertained for an hour before the screening by Arabic Oud musician, Sherin Al Tohamy Mohammed, and treated to a special exhibition of works of art by Emirati artist, Amira Rahim.

Sheikh Nahyan said after the event, "I was pleased, because I think the film enlightened people to the origins of what the hijab represents and that there are different opinions on the issue. It emphasised that the subject matter should be applied with discretion and that women have the choice to wear it or not."

Caroline Issa added, "I found the documentary fascinating, any film exploring the hijab and the veil is important but I found this one really educational and eye opening."

Anasy Media plans to tour the documentary at festivals around the world, and the producers are currently in discussions with a number of distributors in various territories.
Source: WAM