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About the Film
Cities of Light: the Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain is a 45 minute documentary of high culture and high drama filled with historical interest and contemporary relevance. Its major theme centers on the ways in which followers of the three great Abrahamic traditions -- Jews, Christians, and Muslims – interacted, blended and flourished, yet ultimately faltered in Medieval Spain as the forces of extremism tore it apart.
The film aired on PBS to a national audience in August of 2007, and has received numerous awards, including an endorsement from the Top 100 Religious Leaders of the World Economic Forum, for its use in grassroots interfaith dialogue. Supported by the United States Institute of Peace and the Doris Duke Foundation for the Islamic Art, the film has been utilized by hundreds of teachers and community organizations for dialogue on Islam, globalization and tolerance.
20,000 Dialogues is a nationwide initiative that uses discussions about films to promote pluralism, dialogue, and civic engagement. It seeks to build greater understanding of Muslims through films and conversation. 20,000 Dialogues uses Unity Productions Foundation’s (UPF) award winning films and provides the materials people need to participate in dialogues that further the American ideals of inclusiveness and positive civic action.
Interfaith Dialogue Results: (www.20000dialogues.org)
“UPF's film Cities of Light is of superb quality…and it has helped my organization and our larger community in promoting dialogue and achieving greater understanding of our growing Muslim population."
- Lila De Klaver, Executive Director, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh
Classroom Results: (www.islamicspain.tv)
Cities of Light has been used by over 1,500 high school world history and social studies teachers across the United States. More than 80% of teachers said the film was effective or highly effective at increasing their own understanding of Islamic Spain and its contribution to world and European culture. Almost three-fourths of them said that the film increased their own ability to respond to students’ questions about the history of Islamic civilization.
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