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Portrait of Samah Safi Bayazid

Samah Safi Bayazid

Groundbreaking hijabi filmmaker

Born in
Jordan
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Why Samah is here

Championing Muslim representation

Their story

Samah Safi Bayazid is an award-winning filmmaker based in Washington D.C., USA. She is recognized for being one of the pioneering professional Muslim women in the film industry, using her platform to challenge stereotypes, promote positive representation of Muslims, and address issues like Islamophobia and the refugee crisis through her work.

In pictures

Milestones

The moments that shaped Samah’s path.

  1. Becoming a Filmmaker

    Began her professional career in filmmaking at 22 after studying at the New York Film Academy.

  2. Founding LightArt Productions

    Co-founder of LightArt Productions, focusing on humanitarian entertainment.

  3. Award-Winning Work

    Her film "Orshena," addressing the refugee issue, won the Award of Excellence at the Indie Film Festival in California.

  4. Advocacy Through Virtual Reality

    Uses virtual reality to fight Muslim stereotypes, producing VR films about Islamic history.

  5. International Recognition

    Her series "Inspiration" gained over 50 million views, translated into 16 languages, and won the best creative project at the ICDA Dubai Festival.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Challenging Stereotypes

    Utilizes filmmaking to challenge and change the negative stereotypes of Muslims in media.

  2. Promoting Positive Muslim Representation

    Produced various projects focusing on positive Muslim representation and addressing issues like Islamophobia.

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  3. Virtual Reality Films

    Innovated in using VR to educate on Islamic history, producing multiple VR films that are entertaining and educational.

  4. International Film Festivals

    Her works, including the short film "Orshena," have been selected for international film festivals, garnering global recognition.

  5. Inspiring Muslim Youth

    Advocates for the involvement of Muslim youth in filmmaking to inspire and empower them to tell their own stories.

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Samah in interviews, talks and coverage.

  • 01Promoting Positive Muslim Representation↗

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