From Baghdad to The Bay

Wrongfully accused of being a double agent due to his family ties to the Ba’ath Party, Ghazwan Alsharif, an Iraqi translator for the US Army, winds up detained, tortured, and interrogated by US Military Police. Under great duress, Alsharif confesses to a truth that has been hiding in plain sight for his entire life: He is gay. Unable to stay in Iraq due to the danger his position brings upon himself and his family, he seeks political asylum in the US and lands in San Francisco. Despite newfound liberation and an exciting career as a chef, the loss of connection to his family and homeland is felt throughout the narrative. Utilizing nearly a decade of footage that is vulnerable, candid, intimate, and at times humorous, From Bagdad to The Bay touches upon themes easily recognizable to those who have had to flee their homes to save themselves: alienation, post-traumatic stress, despair, hope, and rebirth.

Expected Guests: Director/Producer Erin Palmquist; Producers Frances Reid, Kat Cole, Neva Tassan, and Jennifer Huang; Talent Ghazwan Alsharif; Editors Andrew Gersh and Eli Olson  (All Screenings)