Film Festival 2025

Films at the 12th annual Islamic Arts Festival!

Join us as we celebrate the cinematic voices of Muslims in the United States. 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. Meet with filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors, and be inspired to tell your own story as an American Muslim.

The program will include a Q & A session following the shorts, as well as an improv by “Actors Across Borders”.

Time	Film
11:30 AM	Intro
11:40 AM	Mirrors
11:47 AM	Hot Soup
11:56 AM	Meet the 3amos
12:05 PM	Rumi
12:17 PM	Beneath A Mother’s Feet
12:32 PM	Clara’s Fruit
12:47 PM	Maqluba
1:15 PM	Actors Across Borders Workshop
1:45 PM	The Glassworker
3:25 PM	QA
3:50 PM	End Program

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. The film festival will be part of the expanded programming this year, which also includes spoken word, a comedy show, and a Sufi music program.

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 studying and working in fields with the greatest 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 15th.

Nov 15th, 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM

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 evening Sufi Music & Comedy programs)

Featured Films @ The Festival

Mirrors

Short Film

Starts: 11:40 PM
Run Time: 7 min
Tagline: explores the struggle of connecting with identity and indigenous experience.

Hot Soup

Short Film

Starts: 11:47 PM
Run Time: 9 min
Tagline: Two Pakistanis living in New York meet on an arranged marriage ‘date’ to see if they are suitable for each other.

Meet The 3amos

Short Film

Starts: 11:56 PM
Run Time: 9 min
Tagline: A British guy needs to convince the amo’s to let him marry their daughter/niece.

Rumi

Short Film

Starts: 12:05 PM
Run Time: 12:00 min
Tagline: Rumi is the story of an aspiring actress who is scouted by an agent. She attends an open casting call and is then forced to confront the industry’s tokenism and problematic practices.

Beneath A Mother’s Feet

Short Film

Starts: 12:17 PM
Run Time: 15 min
A single mother in Morocco, trapped in a difficult existence, confronts her fears and desires, leading to the agonizing decision to forsake all she knows—including her children—for their futures.

Clara’s Fruit

Short Film

Starts: 12:32
Run Time: 15 min.
Tagline: Explore the impactful vision of Sister Clara Muhammad, who, during the depths of a tumultuous Jim Crow era, stood tall alongside her husband, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, defying fear and resistance. Together, they embarked on a mission to redefine education and freedom for African-Americans.

Muqluba

Short Film

Starts: 12:47
Run Time: 28 min
A film about family, fatherhood, and food, centering on a man named Jamal who is grieving the death of his father while preparing for his wedding.

The Glassworker

Feature Film

Starts: 1:45
Run Time: 100 min
Tagline: In a town divided by duty and class, Vincent, a glassmaker’s son, and Alliz, a violinist who is the colonel’s daughter, fall in love. As their bond grows, rising tensions between their families threaten to pull them apart. Brought to life through stunning hand-drawn animation, The Glassworker is a poetic tale of first love, family, and the price of staying true to your art.