The UK’s first Islamic movie production company

We hoped Hollywood might change…but Holly-wouldn’t. Now we are picking up the camera to produce films that speak for us and are lead by us.

“Phasers Set To Stun”

That’s right – the affects will only be temporary and soon you’ll be able to go on your way.

Western flicks are excellent in terms of storytelling, special effects and consumer engagement, but when it comes to Muslims we remain the no. 1 bad guys. We hoped Hollywood might change…but Holly-wouldn’t. Now we are picking up the camera to produce films that speak for us and lead by us. Where are the historical epics about Salahuddin or Al Hazen or the stories that look at the rich history of Islam? And what about more Muslim/BME superheroes? These ideas are out there – and not in a galaxy far, far away but buried away in the minds of artists who haven’t had the right opportunities to realize their dreams. And if we do, then Kareem Kent may be coming to a cinema near you…

This is why we have decided to develop a film division to Arakan, the first of its kind in the UK with a dedicated focus to the Muslim/BME voice, and also develop a new comic book with religious superheroes that inspire today’s youth to be agents of change.

“If You Build It, He Will Come”

Why Arakan? Well 4 reasons:

1. We have a history. A respected track record of producing work that is entertaining, balanced and thought-provoking.

2. We grasp the nettle. The established film companies may well drag their heels but Arakan only wears running shoes.
3. We have already made our first film. Producing films is a challenge and our debut movie, Freesia, was no exception; the odds were against us. A standard budget for a British feature is between £1/2million to £5million – and we did it on only £27,000. By Allah’s grace we pulled off a minor miracle.
4. We have done what few comic books do – create 3 Abrahamic superheroes, the ABX, who are Muslim, Jewish and Christian. They fight against prejudice and are aimed at primary school children to entertain and promote positive role models.

We’ve produced some great projects, had real impact and been blessed with a few awards along the way. By diversifying our work we aim to produce films and comics with a global reach that appeal to both Muslim and non-Muslim audiences. Ambitious? Yes! That is what gets things done. We want to create a new wave of cinema that is driven by Islamic values and within Halal boundaries. Freesia is a raw, honest, multi-narrative journey that looks at women’s rights, the role of mosques and what feeds the far-right mentality. With it we have created a new sub-genre – Islamic social realism. You read it here first…

“Go Ahead, Make My Day”

Here’s why it matters – Islam needs positive media attention. Period.

Right now the narrative goes something like this:

• An Arab utters script from a terrorist’s handbook.
• A Pakistani father forces his little girl into marriage.
• Produce. Repeat.

While these scenarios do occur, there is little effort to clear up the misconceptions that such acts are linked to Islam or that most Muslims act in such ways.

“To Infinity…And Beyond”

Thanks for sticking with us. You now know what we want to do, but we have other ambitions also. We want to support the talented yet undiscovered actors, actresses and crew members who are working hard for their big break, which in turn strengthens the independent film industry as a whole. The indie scene must flourish and be a genuine alternative to the re-make/re-hashed movie age we find ourselves living in because originality shouldn’t become an endangered species.

In addition, we propose to be a platform for those who haven’t had the chance to work in this field due to cultural or religious reasons. It’s always been clear that to stand a better chance of succeeding in the movies you need the right waist size or the chiseled body. Why? Not all actors want to get their kit off and the hurdles are tougher for practicing Muslim actors in particular. Many do not want to engage in bad language, illicit scenes or remove their hijabs and why should they have to? Halal entertainment needs to become mainstream.

“May The Force Be With You”

Arakan is proud to be a part of the Muslim Lifestyle Expo 2016, a unique event organised with sincere hearts and minds out to champion Muslim/Muslim-focused businesses for today’s consumer market. Working in unison, we are doing our bit to nurture new talent, especially within the media and the creative arts.