Sunday, March 8, 2009

Santa Claus in Baghdad

Framingham's own award-winning filmmaker, Raouf Zaki, has created a beautiful story in only 38 minutes of film. Santa Claus in Baghdad, released in 2008, was filmed almost entirely in our town. Unbelievably, a Baghdad marketplace in the film was actually a set constructed within an empty warehouse on the south side of Framingham.

A tale of sacrifices and the power of a simple gift, the film is being used as an educational tool in schools, featured at film festivals, and other public screenings. At a cost of only about $100,000, Zaki's work was made on a shoestring but is extremely well-crafted, and clearly a labor of love.

Check out the film's web site for a schedule of public showings, or better yet, buy a copy of the DVD to support your local filmmaker!