The New York Muslim Film Festival launches Oct. 11 at the SVA Theatre, featuring 12 short films and a six-member jury of industry professionals.

The inaugural New York Muslim Film Festival (NYMFF) is set to debut on Oct. 11 at Manhattan’s SVA Theatre. Billed as the city’s first festival dedicated to Muslim filmmakers, the one-day event aims to provide a platform for stories that move beyond common media stereotypes. The program features 12 short films from seven countries, spanning genres including documentaries, dramas, comedies, animation, and experimental works.

Festival Programming and Partnerships

The festival schedule includes a filmmaker reception followed by two blocks of six films, each running approximately one hour. The event concludes with an awards ceremony and jury announcement. The streamer Watermelon+ is sponsoring the Watermelon+ Discovery Award, which grants the platform an exclusive limited-time license for the winning film. Additional partners include the Islamic Scholarship Fund, production house Lost in Space, and Aneesa Talks.

Jury and Leadership

The six-member jury includes actor Aasif Mandvi, writer-director Darine Hotait, producer Munir Atalla, producer Abubakar Khan, filmmaker Sarah Mokh, and actor Abubakr Ali. The festival is led by artistic director Hassan Babar and co-founder Nawal Mubin, who organized the event alongside co-founder Giuseppe de Matteis and programming co-head Aneesa Khan.

Featured Short Films

The diverse lineup includes Justin Mashouf’s documentary “$17.74,” Karim Emara’s dramedy “Baba Is Melting,” and Zaid Ahmed Hassan’s “Ghusl.” Other selections feature experimental works like Basma Khalifa’s “Henna,” animation such as Sima Naseem’s “My Friend in the Jingle Truck,” and dramas including “Bukra,” “Haram Salami,” “Malika,” “Sabr O Shukar,” “The Boy With Dinosaur Head,” “Unqualified,” and “Ya Hanouni.”