A HARD-hitting feature length film about anti-Muslim bigotry has been released by a Keighley based Islamic theatre company.

Arakan Creative has made Freesia. The film had a £27,000 budget and features a 34-strong cast.

It stars Bradford-born actor Aqib Khan, who made his screen debut in the 2010 film West Is West, the sequel to the hit 1999 film East Is East.

Another lead role is played by Oakbank School pupil Matthew Thomas, who lives in Keighley.

Freesia was filmed in Keighley, Bradford and Leeds with local locations including Keighley Shared Church and Airedale Hospital.

Conor Ibrahiem, artistic director of Arakan Creative, said: "In 2012 we obtained three years of funding from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust to address the growing problem of Islamophobia and from one of the projects came Freesia, the first film in the UK looking at Islamophobia.

"I wrote, directed and produced the film and it has the support of David Wilson at City of Film.

"It's a multi-narrative 91-minute feature, in the vein of 'Crash' or 'Babel'. The production included a crew of 15, 13 filming days, multiple local locations and one pet rabbit. A tall order but I never let money get in the way.

"The synopsis is: three worlds collide during a racist attack, leaving a Muslim scholar fighting for his life. It comprises three stories – the victim, the witness and perpetrator.

"The film also touches on the issue of grooming, as one of the issues that feeds into anti-Muslim sentiment."

Mr Ibrahiem, who lives in Cottingley, said he began submitting the film to world festivals last year.

It has been selected in six of these festivals, including Los Angeles CineFest, Miami Independent and London International Film Festival of World Cinema.

The film picked up the Award of Merit, from the Accolade Global Film Comp, was a finalist in the Focus International Film Fest for Best Editing, Best Score and Best Trailer and had three nominations in the London International Film Festival for the Best Original Screenplay, Best Score and Best Director categories.

Mr Ibrahiem, who worked as a professional actor for 10 years, said: "My intention now is to establish the first Islamic film production company in the UK, using Freesia as the launch film. There is a huge Muslim market for such content.

"In doing so we've created a new sub-genre – Islamic social realism. Think Ken Loach with a mosque hat!

"Last year we held four private screenings for around 300 people, and consistently scored an 80 per cent positive rating.

"We also intend to promote the film in secondary schools and colleges, as educational impact is one of our key areas of work.

"My aim is to secure a distribution deal, but failing that I'm looking into hiring independent cinemas.

"The UK premiere is to take place at the London International Film Festival of World Cinema on February 21, and from there I hope to have a Bradford premiere in the near future."