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Documentary Film Screening and Discussion
Balloons over Babylon
including a post-viewing conversation with filmmaker Folke Rydén
Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 1:00PM

Zoom Meeting
Link to presentation will be sent by email prior to event.
Streaming from Chicago,, IL 60640

Only one reservation necessary per household. RSVP to reserve your spot to this special Zoom event.

Silk Road Rising, Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance, Swedish American Museum, and the Honorary Consulate of Sweden in Chicago will be hosting a virtual film screening of and community discussion around Balloons Over Babylon, a documentary about one man’s quest to fight fear and promote peace & love by flying hot air balloons over his war-torn country. Join us for a post-viewing conversation with Swedish filmmaker Folke Rydén and MIRA's Community Engagement Coordinator Ekram Hanna, to be moderated by Jamil Khoury, Co-Founder of Silk Road Rising.

ABOUT THE FILM:
Murtada Al-Hachami loves his country. But he hates the world’s perception of it as a land of war and destruction. After 18 years of forced exile he returns to his native Iraq. He is obsessed with the vision to attract investors and tourists by showcasing a beautiful and welcoming paradise. How? By having the world's best hot air balloon pilots peacefully flying their gigantic inflated vessels over Babylon and ancient Mesopotamia, the birthplace of human arts and culture. But at the same time a new terrorist organization is beleaguering the war torn country and far from everyone shares his dream. As Murtada puts it: “One day you will find me shot for what I’m doing.”


A few days before the event, you will receive an email with your link to this virtual event complete with instructions for how to watch the documentary early.