Fordson: Faith, Fasting Football, the award-winning movie filmed in Dearborn that documents the Fordson High School football team during Ramadan, opens at select AMC Theatres Sept. 9.

We haven’t seen the film yet but early reviews and awards suggest it is well done.  People we have spoken to who live in Dearborn and have seen the film say it shines a more positive light on our city and its residents. For many who live outside of our city and only view us through the negative lens of the network news, the film could serve as a good educational tool.

The film will launch via the AMC Independent™ program in select AMC markets (for a minimum of one week), including Dearborn, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Orange County, Calif., Los Angeles, New York, N.Y., Brunswick, N.J., San Jose, Calif., San Francisco, and in the Greater Washington D.C. region, including Gaithersburg, Md., and Alexandria, Va.

According to the movie’s producer, the film shows all-American life in a typical high school (Fordson) that happens to be mostly Arab-American, unearthing a community desperately holding onto its Islamic faith while struggling to gain acceptance in post 9-11 America.

The film recently received the Special Grand Jury Award at the Slamdance Film Festival, Special Jury Prize at the DEADCenter Film Festival, the Audience and Founders Award at the 2011 Politics on Film Festival, the Best Documentary Award at the Detroit-Windsor Film Festival and was named Champion of the World Cup Film Awards.

You can read what Varity magazine had to say about the film after it was shown at Sundance by clicking here http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117944514/

“This film offers a dynamic and delicate story from a perspective that is not often told,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, vice president, specialty and alternative content for AMC. “We are proud to play a role in sharing the story.”

North Shore Films is launching a national grass roots marketing campaign to secure volunteers to promote the film in their local markets via educational institutions, religious organizations, youth sports teams and community centers. People interested in volunteering can sign up at www.fordsonthemovie.com

Additional information about Fordson is available at its website, via Facebook and Twitter (@FordsonTheMovie).