I Love Hip-Hop in Morocco (USA/Morocco, 2007, 80 min, DVD)

By: Josh Asen and Jennifer Needleman

Screens: Sunday, October 19, 4pm

Synopsis:

Our story begins with a group of Moroccan Hip Hop artists who share a single dream: to rock a professional concert for a hometown crowd. Unfortunately, resistance is strong in their society and resources scarce. With the help of the American filmmaker, they appeal to the American Embassy for funding and begin the journey that will lead to the “I Love Hip Hop in Morocco” Festival. This film reflects the thoughts and dreams of the true future of the Arab: its youth. These are not the images portrayed in the media; these are the real people. And their views on America, Islam, and the world in general might surprise more than a few people around the globe.

Director’s Bio:

Jennifer Needleman is writer/director/editor currently residing in Venice, CA. She and co-Director Josh became best friends during their time at Brown University. After college, Jennifer went on to become the features reporter and editor for the historic Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper. Two years later, she was accepted into the Graduate Screenwriting Program at the USC School of Cinema-Television. She and Josh formed Rizz Productions Inc. in 2004 and embarked upon the creation of their first feature-length film, I Love Hip Hop in Morocco.

Josh Asen is currently an ESL teacher at a public elementary school in a largely Arabic-speaking neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. After college, Josh went on to work as an international liaison for Roc-a-Fella records. In 2004, he received a Fulbright grant to study the effects of American Hip Hop on Moroccan youth culture.