Director Joshua Seftel and Nobel Prize-winning/executive producer Malala Yousafzai entered the Oscar race this January with the hard-hitting 29-minute short documentary “Stranger at the Gate,” which depicts the unlikely encounter between an Islamophobic ex-Marine and afflicted with PTSD and the members of an Indiana mosque (particularly an Afghan refugee named Bibi Bahrami) who help spread his violent tendencies towards them.
“Stranger at the Gate” has enjoyed incredible acclaim and recognition on the film festival circuit for the past few months, but there was one big fan who blew them a bit, as revealed at a recent screening of DGA in Los Angels between Malala and director Seftel, exclusive video of which you can watch above.
“We were in the [Oscar] nominees luncheon, and we meet Steven Spielberg, as one does… he said, ‘I’ve seen your movie three times and cried in a different place,’ Malala said.
Spielberg is nominated as director, co-writer and producer of his largely autobiographical drama “The Fabelmans” for this year’s Oscars.
Malala remembers this vital moment as unique as well. “I think we were both going to talk to him about it, and he was like, ‘no, no, I’ve seen it!’ And that was a big deal.” The Pakistani activist and global sensation also revealed that she was a bit star-struck at the Oscars luncheon. “We saw Tom Cruise, we saw Michelle Yeoh, we saw Austin Butler, this list goes on, it was an amazing day for us.” Seftel adds, “and everyone wanted the picture of him with youshe says, and Malala helpfully adds “with us…with us”.
“Stranger at the Gate” can be viewed as part of ShortsTV’s 2023 Oscar-nominated short film series now playing in theaters across the country. The 95th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 12 at 5 pm PT.
