"A Stray"
“A Stray”

Written & Directed by Musa Syeed, “A Stray” is set in Minneapolis’ large Somali refugee community, and stars Barkhad Abdirahman (“Captain Phillips”) as Adan, a young man who has nowhere to go. His mom kicked him out, and his friends are tired of his headstrong ways. As a last resort, he moves into the mosque, praying for a little help. Surprisingly, God seems to answer. Adan quickly lands a good job, devout friends, and a newfound faith. When Adan nearly hits a stray dog on the job, he’s forced to take it in for a night. But one of his new mosque friends considers the dog impure, and he throws Adan out. With Adan back on the streets, surrounded by his old crew, ex-girlfriends, prying FBI agents, and his estranged family, the dog may be his only friend as he tries to keep his faith and get through the night.

IFP presents “A Stray,” with a theatrical premiere set for New York City on October 21, at the IFP Media Center, as part of the Screen Forward screening series.

Produced by Jamila Wignot, “A Stray” was an official selection of SXSW 2016, BAM Cinemafest and many others.

Filmmaker Musa Syeed’s first narrative feature “Valley of Saints” won the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance and was a New York Times Critics Pick. The result of an immersive research process similar to “A Stray,” the film was shot during a military curfew in Kashmir, employing a community of boat people as cast and crew. Syeed’s previous documentaries, also produced with cinematographer Yoni Brook, include “Bronx Princess” (Berlinale, POV) and “A Son’s Sacrifice” (Tribeca Best Short Doc, Independent Lens).

Watch a teaser for “A Stray” below: