"Stories From Baghdad U.S.A."

Filmmakers and project directors: Alex Farnsley and Kevin King

Read an article about the project.

Kidnappings and murders have devastated Chaldean Iraqis, a Christian minority in Iraq with a history that goes back to the second century. Thousands have escaped and settled in other countries, and a sizable number live in the United States. “Stories from Baghdad U.S.A.” tells the story of Iraqi Chaldeans in El Cajon, Calif., the center of the second largest Chaldean population in the country.

“A lot of Americans think people from the Middle East are extremists and will bomb their city. This film is important because it shows people we’re not like that. I think it will also be an important resource for people seeking more information about our culture,” said Besma Coda, who participated in the project.

“We hope that the film will make people more tolerant of refugee populations and bring greater understanding of the dire circumstances that have made so many refugees give up everything to come here,” said Alex Farnsley, one of the filmmakers.