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Muslim Speed Dating

Muslim Speed Dating is set in a local furniture store, graciously provided by an Indo-Canadian couple. It follows a group of Muslim men and women exploring speed dating for the first time. Juxtaposing age-old, traditional values with newly adopted methods of courtship, the film examines and reveals the inherent clash between ancient mating rituals and the expectations of modern dating. Can the burqa-clad East adhere to the confines of Western speed dating? Find out after Maghrib (sunset) prayers.

  • Mobina Khan
    Director
  • Mobina Khan
    Writer
  • Mobina Khan and Matthew Odette
    Producer
  • Sammy Allouba
    Key Cast
    "Abdul Rashid Mubarak"
  • Sarah Sarwary
    Key Cast
    "Rabia Falooda"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 7 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 19, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Directors Cut International Film Festival
    Vancouver
    Canada
    Semi Finalist
Director Biography - Mobina Khan

Born and raised in Hamilton and graduating from Sheridan Colleges' Fashion Technique and Design program, Mobina Khan moved to Toronto in the early 90s with her film making college
friends. She worked as a designer for two private Labels, in Toronto and created 2 collections, under her own label, Bina Duranni Couture. She produced fashion shows for those collections, covered by CityTVs’ shows, Oh La La and Fashion Television. During this extremely creative period, she collaborated on filmmaking productions with her creative skills in acting, photography, costume design and set designing. Always being a visual artist and finding the fashion world fickle and searching for more profound horizons, Mobina attended the Ontario College of Art & Design, (OCAD) where she majored in Painting and Drawing. Shortly afterward, and always following her artistic instincts Mobina formally delved into acting by attending acting classes at Sears and Switzer Studios and acquiring an acting agent at AAB Talent Agency. She went out for casting calls and auditions, in the Toronto Film Industry, gaining more experience with every gig she landed, from modeling to
acting in commercials, and educational training tapes, to doing voice-over work on Deepa Mehta’s film, Heaven on Earth. Inspired to write and produce Muslim Speed Dating, https://youtu.be/ySPHPE3aNGg after having had the idea for the sketch nearly a decade earlier, Mobina naturally slipped into the Producer, Director, Writer, Actor, Production, and Wardrobe Designer roles quite smoothly. She felt complete creative freedom to utilize all her creative mediums and talents in her film as a form of art where all these varying skills were able to be brought together, giving her endless creative possibilities. She wrote and co-composed her own rap song, 24K Gold Digger, https://youtu.be/HgTqj_BWgjg performed by Rapper Eternia for her film. Mobina is currently also working on Stand Up Comedy materials as well as two other comedy show concepts that she
wishes to develop further.

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Director Statement

Ancient Chinese Philosopher Lao Tzu said it best, ' The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' He was right. My journey for making this film started with just that... a single step, and has meta morphed into full-scale production, far larger and greater than I could ever have imagined.
I used my own life for the material....the characters and their backstories based on real people, names and references in my life. In particular, it is inspired very much by my late father; hilarious, a master storyteller and man who loved to laugh. I also introduced into the script issues valid and about the subject of being Identified as a Muslim and being Gay, being Canadian, being a Refugee, being born in Canada, being Rich and being Poor.
With my comedy, I wanted to move away from the heaviness with which Muslim content and all Islam is often associated, particularly by the West. I wanted to open a window into my culture, my religion and our lives, hopes, fears, and dreams and show that we are different but the same, not all one culture but many. I also wanted to educate the audience about women and their rights in Islam, because women are strong no matter what race/culture/religion they come from.
After a thousand steps on this journey, I am so happy to say I've introduced a new way of thinking, a fresh way of looking at a subject that has had a one-sided view for far too long. With comedy no matter what our races, religions, beliefs, or how our lives may differ, we all of us find some things universally funny and this appeals to all audiences. I hope the audience enjoys this film, as much as I enjoyed creating it.