A special screening of three short films centering veiled women whose stories move through the layered terrains of visibility, identity, and resilience—across the region and diaspora. The program concludes with a curated panel featuring scholars, artists, and advocates in dialogue on representation, agency, and the politics of visibility.
4:00 PM — Screening
5:00 - 6:00 PM — Panel Discussion
Simun Ismail is a multidisciplinary Creative Director whose work spans styling, film, photography, and cultural storytelling. Rooted in a passion for visual narrative and bold aesthetics, Simun crafts compelling creative experiences that bridge identity, memory, and imagination. With a background that weaves together directing, shooting, and curating, their portfolio is a testament to a deep commitment to both artistic integrity and community-rooted expression.
Duha is a Sudanese woman who came to Canada as an adult. She is on a journey figuring out how she fits into a society that often feels too foreign and roles that don’t fully resonate with her. She offers her personal experiences and perspective as your average everyday Hijabi community member.
Hala Mousa is a Lecturer in the Business Communications Department at University Canada West. Her research interests span Sudanese history, political economy, Literature, and Performance, exploring the intersections of culture, power, and identity. With an interdisciplinary approach, she examines historical narratives, economic structures, and artistic expressions in Sudan and beyond. She was recently selected as one of 2025's 30 under 30 by the Canadian Arab Institute for her advocacy work for Sudan. Hala is passionate about education, and she fosters critical thinking and engaged scholarship in her teaching.
Tasneem Alsayyed is an assistant professor of Philosophy and Social Justice at University Canada West. She has recently completed her PhD in Philosophy from the University of Waterloo, where her doctoral work focused on epistemic and ideological injustices related to the marginalization of Muslims and Muslim women. Her areas of specialization include feminist philosophy, social and political philosophy, and decoloniality. Her published work addresses Islamophobia and epistemic injustices in the discourse surrounding the hijab (the Islamic veil), and upcoming work discusses hermeneutical obstacles to Muslim women’s solidarity. Her current research centers on racism and human rights, with a focus on her own country, Palestine. This includes an analysis of the epistemic injustices implicated in the refusal to understand the protest slogans, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” and “Black Lives Matter,” as well as an examination of the anti-Palestinian racism embedded in Canada’s immigration policies. Tasneem’s work is also intertwined with community engagement and local activism, and she sees this as a critical to her work about marginalized groups.
