Out North is hosting a special one-night screening of the film “Three Veils” on June 11 at 7pm, and filmmaker Rolla Selbak will be there.

“Three Veils” stars Angela Zahra, Mercedes Masohn, and Anchorage favorite Sheetal Sheth in the lead role of Nikki. Alaskans met Sheth last year at the local premiere of her movies “I Can’t Think Straight” and “The World Unseen,” also shown at Out North.

“Three Veils” is a film about three young Middle-Eastern women living in the U.S, each with her own personal story.

Leila is engaged to be married, however as the wedding night approaches, she becomes less and less sure of how her life is playing out. Amira is a very devout Muslim, but is dealing with her deep repressions about her intimate feelings toward women. Nikki is acting out her promiscuity as she battles her own demons after a tragic death in the family.

As the film progresses, all three stories unfold and blend into each other as connections are revealed between the three women.”

Writer/director Selbak posted an On Location article for AfterEllen last week about the making of “Three Veils” and her reasons for choosing this project:

“I suppose one must be crazy to attempt to make a film in this day and age about young Arab women — who are Muslim — who go through controversial subject matters such as arranged marriage, forbidden love. And for creating one of the first narrative films to ever feature the struggles of an Arab, Muslim Lesbian.

Why this film?
Growing up in the Middle East with a Muslim family and social structure, I found it extremely difficult to voice the injustices I felt towards women in the region. Back then there were no women’s rights discussions, and even the mention of the word “lesbian” would be enough to get you suspended or even expelled from school.

This was my answer to that question. In the end, this is a film I made for that “me,” for the me who needed help figuring it all out. I always make films I would want to watch, and hope there are others like me who feel the same.

Read the full article Behind “Three Veils,” including a brief interview (on page 3) between Selbak and Sheetal Sheth.

Watch the trailer: