Watch My Journey Tonight on Spotlight Detroit on PBS

Tonight is a special night for Detroitโ€™s creative community! At 9 PM on Detroit PBS, the world premiere of Spotlight Detroit will feature 25 stunning short films, created by the 2025 Kresge Eminent Artist Marion Hayden and the 2024 Kresge Artist Fellows in Live Arts, Film, and Music. These short filmsโ€”produced by Kresge Arts in Detroit and 7 Cylinders Studioโ€”showcase the incredible collaboration between local artists and filmmakers, highlighting the vibrant stories of our city.

Among these films is a short video about me, directed by the talented Jamal Adams, who played a key role as the editor of my feature film, Pomegranate. I talk about my writing, Pomegranate, and the Chaldean Museum!


My Journey to Kresge and Beyond

Receiving the Kresge Fellowship last year was a turning point in my career. It was my 15th attempt at applying for the award, and when it finally happened, everything aligned perfectly. In 2024, the Kresge award amount had doubled, and it coincided with the release of Pomegranate, amplifying the filmโ€™s visibility and impact.

This experience has taught me many lessons, but the most important one is this: persistence pays off. Success takes time, and sometimes the stars align in ways we canโ€™t predictโ€”but when they do, it feels like divine order.

Another lesson I hold close is the importance of elevating others along the way. When Kresge gave me the opportunity to choose a filmmaker to direct my short film, I immediately thought of Jamal. Having worked side-by-side with him for years, I knew no one else could capture the heart of my story better than he could. Jamal was not just my editor on Pomegranateโ€”he became part of my family. He came over for dinners, spent time with me, my husband, my brother, and his wife, and supported me through some of my most challenging moments.

On the set of Pomegranate with Jamal Adams and Lindy Lenk

Jamal Adams: A Filmmaker with Heart

Jamal Adams is not only a gifted filmmaker but also an inspiring storyteller with a passion for uplifting others. If youโ€™d like to learn more about his incredible journey, check out this article about Jamal. His story is one of perseverance, creativity, and communityโ€”qualities that truly shine in all his work.


Join Us Tonight

Iโ€™m thrilled to share this moment with Jamal and the many other amazing artists featured in Spotlight Detroit. Thereโ€™s something magical about seeing our cityโ€™s creativity and talent on full display, and I hope youโ€™ll tune in to experience it for yourself.

Donโ€™t miss the world premiere of Spotlight Detroit tonight at 9 PM on Detroit PBS!

Watch Pomegranate here and please rate it to support independent filmmakers!

Women Reshaping Middle Eastern Narratives: Pomegranate

March is Womenโ€™s History Monthโ€”a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and creativity of women around the world. This year, International Womenโ€™s Day (March 8) feels particularly inspiring as it coincides with the recent release to 25 countries of Pomegranate, a groundbreaking film that hit theaters on March 4. The film is not just a cinematic masterpiece; itโ€™s a bold statement about women reclaiming and redefining Middle Eastern narratives.

Before its wide release, Pomegranate had its exclusive premiere in Los Angeles on February 27, bringing together cast, crew, and supporters for a night of celebration. As someone who attended the premiere, I was struck by the energy in the roomโ€”a shared excitement for a film that promises to transform how Middle Eastern womenโ€™s stories are told. From the red carpet to the post-screening discussions, it was clear that Pomegranate is much more than a movieโ€”itโ€™s an inspiring movement.

At its core, Pomegranate is a story that centers womenโ€™s voices, their struggles, and their triumphs. The film explores themes of identity, resilience, and the power of storytelling. In an industryโ€”and a worldโ€”that often sidelines womenโ€™s perspectives, especially in Middle Eastern contexts, Pomegranate breaks barriers by putting women at the forefront.

Click below to see where you can watch the film in 25 countries!

The Power of Representation

The Middle East has long been portrayed through a narrow lens in global media, often shaped by stereotypes that fail to capture the regionโ€™s rich diversity and complexity. Pomegranate challenges these depictions by offering a story rooted in authenticity, told through the eyes of women who refuse to be silenced.

The film is not only a celebration of Middle Eastern culture but also a reminder of the universal struggles women face and overcome. By focusing on female protagonists navigating personal and societal challenges, Pomegranate humanizes their experiences in a way that resonates across borders.

Why Pomegranate Matters

Released during Womenโ€™s History Month, Pomegranate is a timely reminder of the importance of womenโ€™s voices in shaping cultural narratives. The filmโ€™s release on March 4 is symbolicโ€”it ties into a month dedicated to honoring womenโ€™s contributions throughout history, while also urging us to reflect on the work that still needs to be done for gender equality.

International Womenโ€™s Day, celebrated today, reminds us of the global fight for womenโ€™s rights and representation. Pomegranate amplifies this message by showcasing how women can redefine the stories told about themโ€”and by them.

A Call to Action

The release of Pomegranate is more than just a cinematic event; itโ€™s a call to support women storytellers and creators. As audiences, we have the power to shape what stories are told by choosing what we watch, share, and celebrate. Films like Pomegranate remind us that representation mattersโ€”and that when women take control of their narratives, the world listens.

This Womenโ€™s History Month, letโ€™s celebrate the women who are changing the face of storytelling. Letโ€™s amplify their voices, honor their stories, and continue pushing for a future where every womanโ€™s perspective is valued.

If you havenโ€™t yet seen Pomegranate, make it a priority this month. Itโ€™s more than a filmโ€”itโ€™s a movement.

Happy International Womenโ€™s Day!

Watch Pomegranate Online Sunday – La Femme Independent Film Festival (Paris, France)

Pomegranate was chosen as an Official Selection by La Femme Independent Film Festival (Paris, France). At 7 pm PDT, they will screen it worldwide (online) on Sunday, August 20 at 7 pm PST. Viewers vote for films they like most and the winner is then screened in person in Paris, France later this year.

Click here for tickets: https://filmfreeway.com/LaFemmeIndependentFilmFestival/tickets?welcome=true

Their trusted platformย Magicaย Cinรฉmathรจqueย  is an international platform and art house for the independent films based in London, Paris and Hollywood. Their audiences from all over the world, ” Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, India, China, Japan, Korea, and MENA

To date, the film has had the following awards / selections (of course, we all know there’s more to come โ˜บโค

* New York International Women Festival – Winner of all Categories for Best Feature Film Directed by a Woman

* Luleรฅ International Film Festival (Sweden) (Winner – will screen in December)

* Birsamunda International Film Awards (India)- Winner for Best Actress – Sam Rahmani

* Birsamunda International Film Awards (India) – Winner for Best Feature Film on Women

*San Diego International Film Awards (Semi-Finalist)

* San Jose Independent Film Festival (Semi-Finalist)

* La Femme Independent Film Festival (Paris, France) (Official selection)

* Castle Film & Media Award (Rome, Italy) (Official Selection)

Pomegranate Trailer is Out!

Happy New Year! Hope you had a magical Christmas season.

Last month was quite exciting with holiday celebrations and completing projects I’ve been working on for years. I completed my 15th book, Little Baghdad: a Memoir about an Endangered People in an American City, which will be released on January 15, 2023, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Around the same time I’ll begin submitting the feature film Pomegranate to film festivals. And I’m excited to announce that the trailer was just released click HERE to watch now.

This film for me is special and unique for countless reasons, one of them being that it’s the first Iraqi American feature film and led by women talent. The main character, Niran, is influenced and inspired by Enheduanna, a princess, priestess, poet, and the first recorded writer in history from ancient Mesopotamia. In the story, Niran channels Enheduanna’s sense of power, creativity, and individuality through poetry.

Eneheduanna’s disk was discovered in 1927 yet she is hardly recognized in the world. Myself, I have raved about her in all my talks and several of my books since I came across her name over a decade ago. I dedicate a chapter on Enheduanna in my book Mesopotamian Goddesses: Unveiling Your Feminine Power.

If you still haven’t read the book Pomegranate, click HERE to check it out! (available in print, eBook, and audiobook)

Click the images below to read my articles that were published this month for the Chaldean News

CHALDEAN CATHOLICS IN INDIA 

Built in 1814, Marth Mariam Cathedral is a Chaldean Syrian Churchโ€”the oldest church in Thrissur, a town in Kerala in southern India. This is where people from the Middle East settled long before St. Thomas arrived at its coast in 52 A.D. to spread the Gospel. They came because it was an international trade center. It was known for its natural resources, such as black pepper, which was highly in demand in the West because it wasย used as an antibiotic.
INSIDE IRAQ - A TALE OF THREE MAYORS                                        
This article includes an interview with Iraq's first woman mayor Lara Zara. She recently escaped a bomb explosion intended to kill her. โ€œThe plan succeeded but it didnโ€™t accomplish its goal of killing me,โ€ she said. โ€œIt raised my resistance.โ€

Every month, I interview remarkable individuals on a weekly basis for the Virtual Discussion Series in partnership with Unique Voices in Films, the Chaldean Cultural Center, CMN TV and U of M [Detroit Center]. Below are the upcoming interviews for January.

Check out my YouTube channel where you can watch the interviews live and subscribe. Be sure to set reminders/alerts so you can stay updated on Live and uploaded content.

You can also now find me on Tik Tok, where Iโ€™m letting loose and sharing morsels of my life.