Life Without Basketball: A Story about Identity, Values, and Perseverance.

Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir broke records and barriers on her way to become the first Division I basketball player to play while wearing hijab. As she began pursuing her dream to play professionally, Bilqis discovered that FIBA (the sport's governing body) had a rule which banned headscarfs from international competition. Despite public outcry and several petitions, FIBA has yet to reverse the rule and she is currently banned from playing.

Life Without Basketball documents her journey through this difficult period of time. 

Our film is intended to reach a wide audience and your contributions help us achieve the critical next steps of finalizing production and beginning the editing process. We need to reach our goal in order to release the film in the most timely way possible

Bilqis has already made history as a player, but being able to help overturn the FIBA ruling would have even wider implications on the world.

We feel this is a film with a message that needs to be heard right now. A story about adversities that need to be overcome, but also a story that sheds a positive light on the Muslim community. A story of a woman who stays true to herself and her beliefs. 

Through Bilqis's path forward, and the unifying power of sport, we seek to find a commonality that encourages empathy and increases understanding. We anticipate public discourse about the film to take this same path: recognizing differences but gaining new insight from them, finding unexpected similarities.

The timing and relevance of this story is significant.

Life Without Basketball is our most ambitious project to date - a feature length documentary set for release in 2017. 

After two years of production, we are seeking your help to get our film across the finish line. As independent filmmakers, we do a lot ourselves, and your contribution here on LaunchGood will have a direct impact on the filmmaking process.

FIBA is set to review the headscarf ban later this year and your contributions will help us offset the costs of this critical final piece of production. The funds raised during this campaign are also being directly applied to our editing and finishing budget. 

With documentary films this can often be the most intensive part of the process. More funding means more time crafting the story, it allows the image to look its best, and it helps us begin the process of scoring and licensing music.

About the Filmmakers

Our past films have been featured on ESPN, ABC, PBS, and Outside TV, won awards at DOC NYC, the Independent Film Festival of Boston, Phoenix Film Festival, and a Cine Golden Eagle, and have been featured at the Sundance Film Festival and many other independent festivals around the world. As filmmakers, we've explored themes of family, strength, and determination in narratives that serve to increase understanding and empathy.

As independent filmmakers we have the freedom to pursue the stories that matter to us without restriction, but an independent film is nothing without it's community.

 If Life Without Basketball sounds like the kind of story you want to see, it takes action to bring it life. Here is how you can get involved:

Contribute

With this campaign there a variety of ways you as an individual can contribute to this project. We’ve created two different categories: one grouping that includes readily available rewards (award winning films, t-shirts, etc) and another that offers direct support to a specific production stage.

With full support we are about a year away from having a completed film but we've chosen rewards that will deliver quickly after the close of the campaign. Choosing a support stage offers another option for those wishing to give a little extra and have an even more direct impact. This campaign represents only a portion of our overall budget so more funding means more resources available to help make the best version of this film. It's a great opportunity for individuals to directly improve the quality of the film.

Spread the Word

Unable to make a financial contribution or want to make the most of your donation? Here's how to take action. 

• Sign Bilqis's petition
  
• Share this LaunchGood page on social media
• Join our Facebook page
• Share the trailer
• Let your friends and family know about this story
• Contact your favorite news or media outlet

Official t-shirt design by OriginallyYoung