In this powerful and personal talk, filmmaker Iman Zawahry explores how distorted portrayals of Muslims—especially Muslim women—have shaped public perception and identity, drawing from her own experiences growing up in the Deep South with little to no authentic media representation. She unpacks the legacy of Orientalism in film and media, and how it has fueled stereotypes that persist today, while highlighting the importance of empowering Muslim storytellers to reclaim their narratives. Through humor, heart, and her groundbreaking film Americanish, Zawahry shows that authentic, joyful, and diverse stories can challenge systemic misrepresentation and inspire real change. Iman Zawahry is one of the first hijabi American-Muslim filmmakers in the nation. She has worked on numerous films that have played at over 150 venues worldwide. She’s an Emmy award winner, Princess Grace Award recipient, a Lincoln Center Artist Academy Fellow, Sundance Momentum Fellow, Sundance Universal Fellow and was a part of the Warner Brothers Directing Program. She is also the co-creator of the first American Muslim film grant with Islamic Scholarship Fund where she currently serves as Director of Film Programs. Her debut film, Americanish, has won twenty six awards, including best director and best film and has been distributed worldwide by Sony International Pictures. Iman is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Florida, where she was honored with the Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2024 This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx