New York has never had a Muslim film festival. Until now.
The New York Muslim Film Festival (NYMFF) launches on October 11 at Manhattan's SVA Theatre, positioning itself as a platform for up-and-coming Muslim artists whose voices and perspectives deserve greater visibility.
A Festival Rooted in Joy
"This festival is rooted in joy," said co-founder Nawal Mubin on the NYMFF's website.
Mubin is a New York-based director and producer, currently working as an associate producer at Lost in Space, a boutique production and post-production company.
"At its core, our mission is to foster joy, dialogue, and belonging through storytelling. Muslims are a global and diverse community, shaped by countless cultures, identities, and lived experiences. There is no single Muslim story. Every Muslim story is worthy of being told, and every perspective adds to the vibrant tapestry of who we are," she added.
Mubin co-founded the event with Giuseppe de Matteis, a New York-based filmmaker and post-production professional who serves as media manager and lead assistant editor at Lost in Space.
One Day, Twelve Films and a Star-Studded Jury
The one-day event will screen 12 shorts, mixing documentaries, dramas, comedies, animation and experimental pieces.
The programme starts with a reception for filmmakers and industry guests. From there, two hour-long blocks of six films each lead into the awards and jury announcement.
Watch the festival announcement on Instagram
Variety reports there will be a six-member jury, including Emmy winner Aasif Mandvi, best known as a correspondent on The Daily Show, and producer Abubakar Khan, whose credits include The Glassworker, Pakistan's 2025 Oscar submission.
The Lineup
$17.74 by Justin Mashouf
This documentary centres on a former gang member who has spent decades in prison, jailed since the 1980s. A small act of kindness he extends to the people of Gaza from behind bars ends up igniting an unexpected viral wave of solidarity and hope.
Baba is Melting by Karim Emara
In this Qatar-US dramedy, a single phone call carries the story. A son calls his father while parked outside before Friday prayer in Doha to confront him about a secret second marriage. Against the city's scorching heat, their exchange stirs up long-suppressed feelings, pushing both to face masculinity, vulnerability and the frailty of their relationship.
Bukra by Alex Aljouni
A young Syrian refugee wins a football in a sweepstakes and must race to pick it up before her best friend leaves for good, so they can play one last match together.
Ghusl by Zaid Ahmed Hassan
This film follows a son tasked by his dying father with learning Islamic burial rites, a request that brings him face to face with the end of their time together.
Haram Salami by Negine Jasmine Sekandari and Ayda Rojhantalab
Old rifts reopen among three generations of Afghan women in this comedy as each weighs her own identity and desires against the pull of tradition.
Henna by Basma Khalifa
This experimental UK film charts the henna plant's life cycle and a woman's journey through generations of ritual, memory and womanhood, weaving personal reflection into ancestral tradition.
Malika by Maram Taibah
This Saudi fantasy rests on the relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter, pondering what it means to be a wild girl in a world that expects girls to be obedient, told through a magical-realist world of a child's imagination.
My Friend in the Jingle Truck by Sima Naseem
This Canadian-Pakistani animation takes a young girl from Karachi into a brightly painted jingle truck, where a magical bird transports her into its colourful world. Through stop-motion and 2D animation, the film brings Pakistani culture to life as its lead character learns about friendship and letting go.
Sabr O Shukr by Bilal Shams Khan
In this film, 10-year-old Akram's dream of owning a bicycle becomes his first true lesson in patience and gratitude.
The Boy with the Dinosaur Head by Imran J Khan
A troubled boy convinced he is a dinosaur goes head to head with a teacher set on bringing him back to reality.
Unqualified by Ilhan Abdullahi and Sherry Rashidan
This Canadian comedy follows Warsan, the lone Muslim at her office, who is tasked with spiritually cleansing a lunchroom rumoured to be haunted. The plot: she must clear out the spirits before she loses her job.
Ya Hanouni by Lyna Tadount and Sofian Chouaib
In this French drama, two parents compete to hear their baby say 'Mama' or 'Baba' first. Their playful rivalry is cut short by an unexpected event that upends their lives.
For a city that has never had a Muslim film festival until now, this is a significant beginning.
"We seek to uplift thoughtful, heartwarming, and life-affirming stories that reflect the richness of Muslim life, from love and humour to resilience, tenderness, and community," Mubin said.
"Through a welcoming and celebratory environment, we hope filmmakers and audiences alike feel seen, connected, and inspired," she added.
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