Hello everyone,

We hope your summer is going swimmingly!  We apologize for the delay in updates, but we've had a number of things in the works and have had a lot of ups and downs to contend with over recent months.

We're deep in post-production mode now and we're pleased to announce that we are joining forces with Goldcrest Post, one of the top facilities in the country, with a long history of award-winning films under their belts, including Gandhi, Restrepo, and Slumdog Millionaire. We're working with one of their incredibly talented editors, Katie Hinson, to cut this film into a feature.  We are also very excited to be partnering with noted documentary writer Mark Monroe who helped "The Cove" win an Academy Award in 2009, among others.

All being well, we are hoping to submit to the Sundance Film Festival in September and will be pitching to distributors this fall, so cross your fingers.

Of course, we'll keep you in the loop of any major news.  Thanks again for all your support!

Dear all our amazing backers,

Thank you so much for not only helping us reach our goal but exceed it by 1,200!

We are so excited to get cracking on post and get this film on to screens as soon as possible.

We can't thank you enough for all your support. We will be in touch with you in due course for information about the rewards. Of course, many of them will not be ready until our film is but we will get them to you as soon as possible once the above is accomplished! In the meanwhile, all your names will go up on our website by the end of the weekend. If you would like your name to appear other than it does on you Kickstarter account, please let us know by sending us an email at: frombaghdadtobrooklyn@gmail.com.

Much love from the From Baghdad to Brooklyn Team

Hello to all our backers, new and the old-timers. We've been so touched by the outpouring of support. The link to this Kickstarter page has been posted on Facebook almost 300 times! It's been especially encouraging to see so many names of people who aren't our friends, family or coworkers and the messages we've received have shown us how far-reaching the story being told through the film really is.

The money raised through this campaign will go directly towards completing the film. We have one week left before our campaign closes and we want to not only meet our goal, but leave it in the dust and start to raise the money that we will need in the oh-so-vital distribution stage.

Can you help get the word out?
If there's anyone in your life who might be inspired by this project, talk to them about it. And if they're still not sure, have them talk to us about it! Do you blog, or know any great bloggers? Maybe you have time to write a short piece about the film or the issues it covers. The chain effect of reaching out to our personal networks has been immense so far and we can't thank you enough for it!

Wishing you all a lovely weekend,

Tami, Jen and Felix

Hello to all our contributors!

First things first, another big THANK YOU to all who have backed this project! We are now just shy of halfway towards our goal of $6,000. The momentum we're feeling from all your support and kind words has been inspiring.

The project has also been getting some attention in the blogosphere including a number of LGBT websites such as LGBT Asylum News (http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2010/08/from-baghdad-to-brooklyn-following-gay.html) where you can read a post from Jen about her experience making the film. We're also happy to be featured in indieWIRE's 'in the works' column which previews upcoming projects to look out for: http://www.indiewire.com/article/in_the_works_90s_indie_music_in_losers/

Onwards and upwards!

Jennifer, Tami & Felix

First of all, thank you so much to all of you for supporting this film! Making it has been a long and arduous journey but the support and encouragement of friends like you have really helped make it possible. We now have about 2 months worth of production left before we start on post.

With the US troop withdrawal (using the term 'withdrawal' lightly) underway, Iraq is likely to slowly disappear from our tv screens and newspaper pages but the tragedy persists for millions of Iraqis. We hope to bring the voice of one of these Iraqis to international audiences and help challenge stereotypes about what it means to be Iraqi, Arab, gay, a refugee.

If you are interested in learning more about the background to Mohamed's exile, please check out this post by Jennifer on The Huffington Post earlier today about the continued persecution of gay men and women in Iraq: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-utz/gays-in-iraq-under-attack_b_690406.html

Thanks again and, if possible, please take 2 minutes to repost on FB, twitter or just tell your friends about it next time you see them. We're hoping to garner enough support through word-of-mouth to make this happen.

Stay tuned for more updates!