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ZARQA the Web Series
ZARQA is a new comedy web series in production from FUNdamentalist Films, a Regina-based production company belonging to Zarqa Nawaz, the Creator of Little Mosque on the Prairie. With funds from the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the Independent Production Fund (IPF), and Creative Saskatchewan, the web series finished production in October of 2021.
The premise is simple: after Zarqa, a middle-aged and very complicated Muslim woman, learns on Facebook that her ex-husband is marrying a younger, skinny, white yoga instructor, Zarqa texts back that she’s coming to the wedding with her own cliché: a white brain surgeon named Brian. Now she just has to find him. Zarqa Nawaz herself stars in the series.
ZARQA in the News
Season 2
TV
- May 9, 2023 – CBC Saskatchewan News (8:10 mark), Sam Maciag, “ZARQA season 2 is filming in Regina”
RADIO
- May 10, 2023 – AM 980 CJME & AM 650 CKOM, Lisa Schick, “Thrilled: Saskatchewan TV production back for a second season”
PRINT/ONLINE
- May 26, 2023 – Regina Leader-Post, Greg Harder – “Brick by brick: Local TV comedy helping build a stronger foundation in Sask“
- May 23, 2023 – CBC Saskatchewan (Online), Laura Sciarpelletti – “ZARQA pokes good-natured fun at cultural stereotypes as Season 2 films in Regina“
- May 15, 2023 – CTV News Regina, Wayne Mantyka – “Championing female representation: Sask. television series features women led production“
- May 10, 2023 – SaskToday.ca, John Cairns – “Zarqa back for filming of season two in Saskatchewan“
- May 3, 2023 – Playback, Taimur Sikander Mirza – “CBC Gem comedy Zarqa returns for season two“
Season 1
TV
- June 1, 2022 – etalk
RADIO
- May 26, 2022 – CBC q
- May 14, 2022 – CBC Day 6 – ” Zarqa Nawaz on the importance of putting flawed, middle-aged Muslim women on the screen”
- May 12, 2022 – Sirius XM The Breakdown
- May 9, 2022 – The Afternoon Edition – Sask, Garth Materie – “Regina author, screenwriter and comedian, Zarqa Nawaz tells us about her latest series – Zarqa!”
- May 9, 2022 – CBC Radio Saskatchewan Weekend
PODCAST
- June 8, 2022 – Reframeables – All Kinds of Stories with Zarqa Nawaz (Episode 40)
PRINT/ONLINE
- June 24, 2022 – Splice Magazine
- May 23, 2022 – Postmedia – “Little Mosque on the Prairie creator returns with new show”
- May 13, 2022 – Toronto Star – “TV writer Zarqa Nawaz creates stories that challenge stereotypes about Muslim women”
- May 13, 2022 – CBC News Entertainment – “ZARQA tells the story of a Muslim divorcee looking for revenge“
- May 13, 2022 – What She Said
- May 13, 2022 – Ici Radio-Canada – “ZARQA tells the story of a Muslim divorcee looking for revenge”
- May 11, 2022 – The Star Phoenix – “Acting debut for Sask.-based producer Zarqa Nawaz airs this week”
- Mar 8, 2022 – Maclean’s – “Zarqa Nawaz had a hit show, then a decade-long dry spell. She’s ready for her second act
Thank you!
Below are the generous individuals who donated to our 2020 crowdfunding campaign. Thank you for helping to fund season one of ZARQA!
Elizabeth Arseneau
Dawn Bird
Carla Blakley
Susan Cherland
Nozhat Choudry
Michael Despotovic
Kirk Dunn
Gregory Eckler
Yasmin Elhady
Samira Faiz
K Falkenberg
Jamal E Fatima
Mark Fenton
Asma Ghori
Daphne Giachero
Nader Hashemi
Karen Hill
Zereena Khan
Omar Khawaja
Kwok Lau
Hussain M Juma
Cadence MacPherson
Joanne McDonald
Kelly McGurrin
Shelina Merani
Majid Moghadam
Soraya Moghadam
Abbas R
Uzma Rasheed
Jennifer Ryan
Zahra Saif
Robn Schlaht
Areeb Shams
Jafar Shenasa
Sarah Tkachuk
Terry Toews
Stuart Wetmore
Rita Youssuf
Sayed Yusuf
Iman Zawahry