New York’s First Muslim Film Festival Unveils Lineup and Jury

The inaugural New York Muslim Film Festival (NYMFF) has finalized its competition lineup and jury ahead of its Manhattan debut. Co-founded by filmmaker and producer Nawal Mubin and filmmaker Giuseppe de Matteis, organizers describe the event as New York City's first film festival dedicated to Muslim cinema.

According to Variety, the festival aims to move Muslim narratives past counter-narratives into establishing paradigms. Artistic director Hassan Babar stated that Muslim stories "should be the establishing paradigm." Mubin noted, "This festival exists because those stories deserve a stage in this city, not on the margins of someone else's."

Lineup Spans Seven Countries

The program features 12 short films originating from seven countries: the United States, Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, and the United Kingdom. Female directors helm a majority of the selections across documentary, narrative drama, comedy, animation, and experimental categories.

The films are divided into two six-film screening blocks: "Acts of Resilience" and "Reimagining Traditions." Selections include Justin Mashouf's documentary short "$17.74," which follows a former gang member incarcerated since the 1980s whose modest donation to civilians in Gaza catalyzed an unexpected wave of solidarity.

The full lineup includes:

• "$17.74" (Justin Mashouf)
• "Baba is Melting" (Karim Emara)
• "Bukra" (Alex Aljouni)
• "Ghusl" (Zaid Ahmed Hassan)
• "Haram Salami" (Negine Jasmine Sekandari and Ayda Rojhantalab)
• "Henna" (Basma Khalifa)
• "Malika" (Maram Taibah)
• "My Friend in the Jingle Truck" (Sima Naseem)
• "Sabr O Shukr" (Bilal Shams Khan)
• "The Boy with the Dinosaur Head" (Imran J Khan)
• "Unqualified" (Ilhan Abdullahi and Sherry Rashidan)
• "Ya Hanouni" (Lyna Tadount and Sofian Chouaib)

Jury and Industry Sponsors

The festival's six-member jury comprises Aasif Mandvi, Darine Hotait, Munir Atalla, Abubakar Khan, Sarah Mokh, and Abubakr Ali.

Industry partners and award sponsors include streaming and distribution label Watermelon Pictures—presenting the Watermelon+ Discovery Award—along with the Islamic Scholarship Fund, post-production company Lost in Space, and Aneesa Talks.

Venue and Dates

Screenings are set for the SVA Theatre at 333 W 23rd St in Manhattan. Primary reporting and official programming designate NYMFF as a one-day event on October 11, 2026, though one ticketing page listed dates spanning October 9 to October 11, 2026.