Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American lawmaker based in Minneapolis, is the subject of a new documentary titled “Time for Ilhan.”
The film was directed by Norah Shapiro and will be screened at the renowned Tribeca Film Festival today. It follows Omar as she runs for the 2016 House of Representative’s campaign, hoping to gain the Minnesota state representative seat.
The documentary is explained succinctly, “Ilhan Omar’s story will present a counter-narrative to the pervasive negative portrayal of both politics and Muslim immigrants and women in America. It will also raise questions about barriers to access to the political process in this country, and offer a refreshing and inspiring example of overcoming them.”
Omar is squaring off against Phyllis Khan for the job.
it was so exciting to celebrate Norah Shapiro’s new documentary #TimeForIlhan with the star herself, 1st Somali-American Muslim legislator elected in the U.S. & #VoteRunLead Alumna @IlhanMN, before viewing it at the @Tribeca Film Festival tonight! #Tribeca2018 #TFF #RunAsYouAre pic.twitter.com/aBhkW3f2l0
— VoteRunLead (@VoteRunLead) April 23, 2018
The movie also highlights a Somali Muslim man who is vying for the position and lost to Kahn in 2014.
Omar is a former refugee and community activist. Her political aspirations signal the first instance a Muslim woman attempts to obtain a state seat in the midst of religious and racial tensions.
