Inside Oscar-shortlisted documentary short film STRANGER AT THE GATE

“At a moment when division and hatred are all too common, Stranger at the Gate shines a light on our shared humanity and delivers an astonishing message of hope,” commented director, Joshua Seftel.

Bibi Bahrami fled Afghanistan in the early 1980s and ended up in Muncie, Indiana, where she co-founded the mosque with her husband Saber Bahrami, a physician. Bibi plays an integral role in the Muncie community, where she has done interfaith work and helped resettle more than 100 Afghan refugees in the past year.

Stranger at the Gate is the latest work from the Jewish filmmaker’s decade-long film project to combat Islamophobia. Seftel’s 25-part series of short films, The Secret Life of Muslims (launched in 2016) has told stories in several formats, including documentary shorts, animated films, and music videos. Seftel has established a reputation for directing films infused with a dedication to social impact and conscience.

Seftel’s deep commitment to the mission of his project stems from having faced anti-Semitism as a child. “When I began to notice the level of Islamophobia in the U.S., I felt a connection to what my Muslim friends were experiencing. I thought, maybe I can do something as a filmmaker to help shatter damaging stereotypes about American Muslims.”

Seftel’s work to combat Islamophobia has been recognized with accolades and honors, including the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau Media Award, shared with Sir Bob Geldof, and director Lena Khan, and most recently he received one of the El Hibri Foundation’s 2022 Peace Awards, and the organization’s “Fearless Ally Award” in October 2022.

Stranger at the Gate is available to view as part of The New Yorker magazine’s award-winning series of documentary productions at newyorker.com and The New Yorker’s YouTube channel