Parvez Sharma, a 2004 graduate of the School of Communication, directed and produced an award-winning documentary that was shown in D.C. from Sept. 5 to 11.
Sharma's film, "A Jihad for Love," received worldwide praise, including awards from the Toronto International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival and TRI Continental Film Festival in India, according to the movie's Web site.
In his documentary, Sharma takes a closer look at the "complex global intersections between Islam and homosexuality," according to his blog.
Sharma began working on the movie while he was still an AU student. After college, he filmed in countries including Egypt and Bangladesh.
Sharma said in his blog he was filming in some countries without government permission. While filming in Bangladesh, state security ransacked his hotel room.
The film will be on shown in D.C. at the E Street Cinema until Sept. 11 and will then move on to screens in Berkeley, Calif.
-ANNA TUMAN
