Ahmad Zahra

Early life and education

Ahmad Zahra was born in Damascus, Syria and grew up partly in Syria and partly in the United Kingdom. He attended medical school at the University of Damascus, earning his M.D at the age of 23 and specializing in pathology.

In the late 1990s he immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in California. After moving to the U.S., Zahra pursued a long‑held interest in cinema; he studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and worked for several years in development and distribution at 20th Century Fox.

Film and media career

In 2001 Zahra moved to Fullerton, California and founded Zahra Pictures LLC, a small film‑production company based in the city. Zahra Pictures produces documentaries and independent features with an emphasis on cross‑cultural understanding and community‑building. Its first film, On Common Grounds, aired on the Hallmark Channel and showed Christian, Muslim and Jewish volunteers building a house for a low‑income family. Zahra subsequently produced the drama Three Veils (2011), filmed largely in Fullerton and featuring three Middle‑Eastern American women, one of whom struggles with her sexuality. His production credits also include the MGM‑distributed feature American East.

Zahra Pictures’ mission extends beyond film production. The company collaborates with universities to mentor aspiring filmmakers and promote opportunities for under‑represented artists. For example, Zahra co‑sponsored an Arab‑American filmmaker competition, provided a film grant that enabled Cal State Fullerton students to shoot Beyond the Fence on 35 mm film. Zahra has also raised funds and personally mentored students in Cal State Fullerton’s film program and has assisted emerging talent through internships and grants.

Community service and civic involvement

Zahra became known in Fullerton for his community service. He’s a member of the Fullerton Collaborative, a coalition of service organizations, and launched Ahmad’s School Drive, an ongoing effort that collects school supplies for elementary schools in South Fullerton. Through Zahra Pictures he has participated in CSUF’s internship program, hired students from Fullerton College and Cal State Fullerton, and raised funds for student film projects.

In 2020 the Orange County Register named him one of Orange County’s top 100 influencers, citing his work restoring murals and exploring rent‑subsidy programs.

Political career

Zahra’s desire to address inequality and represent his community led him to seek elective office. He has lived in Fullerton’s predominantly Latino and low‑income District 5 since 2001. Recognizing that many families in his district live below the poverty line, he started a school‑supply drive but felt that it was not enough; he therefore decided to run for office and was elected to the Fullerton City Council in November 2018. He was the first person elected to represent District 5 and the first openly LGBTQ Muslim elected to a city council in the United States. Zahra won re‑election in 2022; his current term runs through December 2026