Another first at the 11th annual Islamic Arts Festival! Celebrate the cinematic voices of Muslims in America at the first-ever film festival to be held during the Islamic art festival. Meet with local filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors, and be inspired to tell your own story as an American Muslim.

Join us for our first Muslim film festival as we celebrate the cinematic voices of Muslims in film. This one-day film festival will be specially curated to include a diverse lineup of filmmakers and actors in film shorts and a feature film. Selected films will include an exclusive QA with the film directors, actors, and artists.

We are collaborating with the Islamic Scholarship Fund and the Rung Film Festival to bring a Fabulous Film Festival to our annual Islamic Arts Festival this year. The film festival will be part of the expanded programming offered this year, which also includes a spoken art program, a comedy show, and a Sufi music program. The Film Festival at IAF 2024 will be held on November 9th and 10th at the Student Center South Theater at the University of Houston.

The Islamic Scholarship Fund empowers young leaders in policy, law, media, and film to create a world where race, religion, and culture are no longer barriers to equity and equality. ISF scholars are agents of change at the epicenters of institutions that impact public opinion and policy. Since 2009, ISF has funded scholars who are studying and working in fields with the most significant impact on public opinion and policy, including film and television production, acting, and theater. Our goal is to improve negative portrayals of Muslims in the news, increase Muslim representation in policy-making, and invest in the creation of positive and engaging stories about American Muslims.

The Rūng Film Festival aims to empower minority communities by supporting filmmakers of color, especially of Pakistani heritage, by screening and awarding original works of indie filmmakers. Rung aspires to play a crucial role in enhancing representation, promoting diversity, connecting creatives, and contributing to a more inclusive and equitable film industry across Texas and beyond. The Urdu word “rūng” means “color.” Color is our visual interpretation of how light bounces off surfaces. Films can mirror this facet of the visible spectrum by reflecting narratives about people of color, thereby conveying their unique perspectives.

Our Film Festival is dedicated to amplifying Muslim voices and stories in the American cinematic landscape, and we look forward to seeing you on November 9th and 10th.

Location: Theater at the Student Center South, University of Houston. 4455 University Dr, Houston, TX 77204
Tickets: FREE! FREE! FREE! (All Theater Programs are FREE except the Al-Firdaus Ensemble & Comedy Hour)