CAI and ii3Studios complete the production of ‘In Her Shoes’
Toronto, March 21, 2023 - In partnership with ii3Studios, we have completed the production of In Her Shoes. The upcoming short film will make its nationwide premiere in 2023 and is a relevant and timely film exploring employment barriers facing Arab women in Canada. The film amplifies conversations and experiences about employment barriers that Arab women in Canada are facing by highlighting the various myths surrounding and haunting them throughout their careers. CAI’s community-based Employment Barriers report inspired the film.
“In Her Shoes is a short narrative that generally speaks to the lack of representation of Arab Canadians in the film industry. The film particularly sheds light on employment barriers that Arab Canadian women face throughout their professional journeys. It’s a remarkable project to me, not only because it marks my directorial debut but also because I believe that storytelling is the most powerful tool to build bridges between communities. It is time to tell the untold Arab Canadian narrative, our narrative, our stories, through our truths and lived experiences. I am proud to partner with the Canadian Arab Institute on this film and special thanks to the Canadian Heritage Department at the Ministry of Diversity and Inclusion for their investment in our narrative.” - Mariam J. Momani, Founder of ii3Studios and Director of In Her Shoes.
Mariam J. Momani on the set of In Her Shoes
The film not only features Arab-Canadian talent from across the country, but also cast and crew from other communities in Canada. This production was made possible by the Department of Heritage Canada’s Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP) and is part of CAI’s Breaking Down to Build Up project, which raises awareness about the Canadian-Arab community and combat anti-Arab racism by producing media that debunks the myths surrounding Arab identity in Canada.
Mariam J. Momani and Jad El Tal on the set of In Her Shoes
“The goal of this movie is to inspire dialogue about anti-Arab racism in the career journey of Arab women, and to drive broader change so that Arabs across Canada can feel a greater sense of belonging here. Some of the scenes in the film are inspired by qualitative data we collected for our Employment Barriers report, which shows how this film is made by the community, with the community, and for the community. We are grateful for partnerships with Arab-led organizations like ii3Studios. Attending the production set and watching Mariam in action reinforced why funding for community-based initiatives is critical.” Jad El Tal, Director of Research and Policy at CAI.
Another film titled Lemons, in collaboration with Open Screenplay, and a video series, in collaboration with Yalla! Let’s Talk, are also in production. Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes content, the trailer, and the release date!
Press Contact
Jad El Tal, CAI Director of Research and Policy; jad@canadianarabinstitute.org, 647-695-3339
Mariam J. Momani, Founder of ii3Studios; momani@ii3studios.com,
About the Canadian Arab Institute
The Canadian Arab Institute (CAI) is a national, non-partisan think-and-do-tank that is focused on the issues and interests of the Canadian Arab community. The Institute produces important research reports and develops community programming to help the general Canadian public understand what the Arab-Canadian experience is in Canada. For years, they have been advocating for a federal Arab Heritage Month as they work across the aisle to try to have this Bill pass through the legislative process.
About ii3Studios
ii3Studios is a Toronto-based video production company that serves various corporations and community-based organizations in the MENA region and North America, with the purpose of creating content that represents and speaks to third culture audiences.