The Muslim House®
June 11, 2026
during Tribeca Festival
The Muslim House® is a cultural hub — founded and presented by the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau — where American Muslim storytellers and allies come together at major film festivals to learn, collaborate, and create.
With support from the Doris Duke Foundation, The Muslim House® continues to expand at Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, and Tribeca— building cultural power, visibility, and momentum that can’t be ignored.
At The Impact Lounge Soho Grand Hotel 310 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013
This event is by RSVP only. If you’d like to receive an invitation, please email TheMuslimHouse@MPAC.org
10:00 AM ET, June 11
Breakfast
11:00 AM ET, June 11
Opening Remarks
Salam Al-Marayati
President, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC®)
Nationally recognized for his commitment to improving the public understanding of Islam and policies impacting American Muslims, Salam is president and co-founder of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. He oversees the organization's groundbreaking civic engagement, public policy, and advocacy work.
He is an expert on Islam in the West, Muslim reform movements, human rights, democracy, national security, and Middle East politics. He has spoken at the White House, Capitol Hill and represented the U.S. at international human rights and religious freedom conferences.
Maurine Knighton
Chief Program Officer, Doris Duke Foundation
Maurine Knighton is the chief program officer at the Doris Duke Foundation. Knighton joined the foundation in 2016 and served as program director for the arts. Prior to her work at the Doris Duke Foundation, Knighton was the senior vice president for grantmaking at the Nathan Cummings Foundation. She also served as senior vice president for program and nonprofit investment at the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone.
Knighton has also served as panelist and advisor to the National Endowment for the Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, Arts Presenters Ensemble Theater Program, South Carolina Arts Commission and many others.
Sue Obeidi
Senior Vice President, MPAC® Hollywood Bureau
As SVP of the Muslim Public Affairs Council and founding leader of the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau, Obeidi has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of entertainment media and public policy. Obeidi helps shape how stories are told, who gets to tell them, and why representation matters to both culture and community.
Under her leadership, the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau launched The Muslim House®, a cultural hub at major festivals including Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca.
11:30 AM ET, June 11
Fireside Chat with
Mira Nair & Bilal Qureshi
Join us for an intimate conversation between critically acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and Essayist, Broadcaster & previous producer of NPR’s “All Thing’s Considered” Bilal Qureshi as they explore Nair’s extraordinary body of work. From Mississippi Masala to Amri, her forthcoming biopic on pioneering Hungarian-Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil, the conversation will trace the themes that have defined her filmmaking career. Together, they will reflect on the power of storytelling, the responsibility of representation, and how creators from communities long spoken about rather than spoken with can reclaim and protect the integrity of their narratives.
Mira Nair
Acclaimed Filmmaker
Mira Nair is an Academy-Award nominated director best known for her visually dense films that pulsate with life. Her debut feature, Salaam Bombay! (1988) won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes, followed by the groundbreaking Mississippi Masala (1991), the Golden Globe & Emmy-winning Hysterical Blindness (2001) and the international hit Monsoon Wedding (2001), for which she was the first woman to win Venice Film Festival’s coveted Golden Lion. Also known for her literary craftsmanship of subcontinental fiction, Mira has filmed The Namesake (2006), The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012), Vanity Fair (2004), A Suitable Boy (2020) and Queen of Katwe (2016). At home everywhere, in 2021 she directed the TV pilot of the iconic film National Treasure. She returned to the theatre for her most recent endeavor, directing Monsoon Wedding the Musical, which opened in New York City at St Ann's Warehouse in May 2023 and is bound for the West End in 2026.
Her next feature films will be AMRI, an experimental portrait of Amrita Sher-Gil, India’s pioneering modern artist, and BRO, a searing tale of class, conflict and revenge in contemporary India. A book on Mira Nair’s cinema will be published by Rizzoli in 2026.
An activist by nature, Nair founded Salaam Baalak Trust for street children in 1989, and the Maisha Film Lab in East Africa to train film makers on the continent in 2004. In 2012, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor.
Bilal Qureshi
Essayist & Broadcaster; previous Producer of NPR’s All Things Considered
Bilal Qureshi is an arts journalist, critic, and broadcaster. His writing and reporting have been published in Bloomberg, The Washington Post, The New York Times, on the BBC Arts Hour and NPR.
Bilal wrote the column ‘Elsewhere’ on international cinema for Film Quarterly from 2016 - 2023 - and contributed the liner notes for the Criterion Collection release of Mira Nair’s ‘Mississippi Masala.’
He began his journalism career at NPR’s All Things Considered where he spent a decade as producer, reporter, and editor - and led the network’s film coverage from 2022-2024.
Bilal was born in Pakistan, grew up in Richmond, Virginia and is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Columbia School of Journalism. He currently lives between Accra, Ghana and Los Angeles.
1:00 PM ET, June 11
Lunch
What does it take to bring a film from an initial idea to the festival stage? In this conversation, filmmakers and producers will unpack the journey of independent filmmaking from development to navigating the festival circuit.
Moderated by William Morris Endeavor’s Nazia Chandiwalla, the panelists will discuss how they have been successful in premiering their films at Tribeca and other major festivals. They will share candid insights into the creative and logistical challenges of getting a film seen, building momentum through festivals, and connecting with audiences in an increasingly competitive landscape.
2:00 PM ET, June 11
The Festival Path: Bringing a Film to the Stage
Introduction By Zaki Barzinji
Director of Building Bridges Program, Doris Duke Foundation
Prior to joining the Doris Duke Foundation, Zaki Barzinji served as Senior Director for Empowered Communities at the Aspen Institute, where he oversaw a range of projects at the intersection of tech, policy, equity and justice for systemically marginalized communities. In the Obama Administration, he served as Senior Associate Director of Public Engagement and President Obama’s liaison to Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs and other minority faiths, working to ensure that perspectives rarely represented in national decision-making were included at the highest levels.
Nazia Chandiwalla (Moderator)
Business Affairs Executive, William Morris Endeavor
Nazia is an Entertainment Lawyer at WME. She represents individuals and production companies across non-scripted television, digital media, documentaries, broadcasting, and comedy.
Nazia negotiates a wide range of deals and agreements for on-camera talent, hosts, directors, producers and showrunners, news correspondents, podcasters, comedians, social media influencers, YouTube creators, underlying rights holders, and production companies. Her work spans across all stages of development, production, distribution, and licensing and syndication.
Bilal Sami
Producer
Bilal Sami is a producer, filmmaker and screenwriter with over two decades of experience. His most recent producing credit, 'Hanging by a Wire' (Universal Pictures/Everwonder Studios), premiered opening day at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in competition. Previous credits include the Disney+ Top 10 documentary series 'David Blaine – Do Not Attempt' (Imagine Entertainment), the critically acclaimed feature 'Dobara Phir Se' (Deja Vu), which he also wrote, and the crime thriller 'Laal Kabootar' (The Red Pigeon), Pakistan's official submission to the 92nd Academy Awards.
After running his own boutique production company in Lahore, he established the New Media and Syndication divisions at Geo Entertainment from 2018–20. A Fulbright Scholar with an MFA in Film, Bilal serves on the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee and is a member of the US Television Academy.
Amar Lohana
Producer
Amar Lohana co-founded Akelo Media, a production company dedicated to character-driven nonfiction by and about communities of colour. He produced The Gymnastics of Fisherman Colony, which will have its World Premiere at Tribeca 2026 in documentary competition.
He previously edited and produced the feature documentary The Devil’s Advocate (2021), a look into the American justice system through the lens of three lawyers who defend accused terrorists, which was funded by ITVS and Firelight Media. Prior to filmmaking, Amar spent 15 years working in technology and finance in New York.
Jumai Yusuf
Director
Jumai Yusuf is a Writer, Director, Producer, and co-founder of Lunar Crown Productions. A Muslim, Nigerian immigrant with an MFA from USC and a B.A. in Neurobiology from Harvard, she blends her unique perspective with bold storytelling across live-action and animation. Her short film “Nate & John” premiered at Tribeca, earned an NAACP Image Awards nomination, and won the Cultural Impact Award at the American Pavilion in Cannes.
She was a Sundance x Disney Muslim Artist fellow for her animated pilot LAYLA AND THE STARSHIP AFROTOPIA, which was also selected for the Television Screenwriting Lab for Black Muslim Writers hosted by MPAC Hollywood and the BlackHouse. Her horror feature COCOA DOLL was on the Muslim List and the WScripted Cannes Screenplay List. Her full portfolio is available at www.jumaiyusuf.com
3:30 PM ET, June 11
Comedy Showcase: Comedy As the Great Equalizer
Comedy, especially in times that we are living in now as people of conscience, is more than entertainment. It is a response to injustice. When communities are being targeted for political gain, reduced to talking points, or made as the “other,” comedy pushes back. It helps expose the absurdity of prejudice and fear-based narratives. Comedy is a form of truth-telling. This panel explores where the funny comes from, how comedy has leveled the playing field in a rather bleak sociopolitical landscape, and what it takes to get up in front of a group of strangers and share one’s skillfully crafted thoughts hoping they will be well received.
Mohanad Elshieky
Comedian
Mohanad Elshieky is a New York-based, Libyan-born comedian who made his national TV debut on Conan and appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Mohanad is currently a writer for the NPR hit show Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me.
Atheer Yacoub
Comedian
Atheer Yacoub, a New York-based, internationally touring comedian, brings hilariously relatable comedy from the front lines of culture clash—growing up as a Palestinian in Alabama, and the joys of disappointing her traditional Muslim parents. Her mix of silly and dark humor tackles identity, politics, and religion with sharp wit and unexpected twists.
Her first comedy special, Denied Entry, is streaming on YouTube and SiriusXM. Her half-hour stand-up debuted on Comedy Central Arabia and aired globally across the SWANA region She’s appeared on AXSTV’s Gotham Comedy Live, SF Sketchfest, The Boston Comedy Festival, and more. Atheer was a staff writer for BRIC TV’s Emmy-winning sketch shows The Breakdown and Passport Control. She’s also the co-creator and co-host of the award-winning FUSE TV show Muslim Girls DTF: Discuss Their Faith, recognized by SeriesFest, Laughter Lab, and The Pop Culture Collaborative.
Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh (Moderator)
Journalist
Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh is a Palestinian-American journalist, entrepreneur, and media executive based in New Jersey. He is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the world's largest Muslim-focused digital media platforms, reaching more than 14 million followers across social media and serving millions of Muslims globally through news, storytelling, and community-driven content. Ameer launched Muslim in 2019 while studying journalism at Rutgers University after recognizing a lack of authentic Muslim representation in mainstream media.
Today, the platform covers news, culture, identity, and social issues affecting Muslim communities worldwide while creating opportunities for Muslim journalists, creators, and storytellers.
Hassan Phills
Comedian
Hassan Phills is one of Canada's fastest rising comedians, known for his engaging and interactive stand-up shows. Recently featured in Crave's original series 'The Office Movers' and with appearances at Just For Laughs and Moontower Comedy Festival, Hassan has firmly established himself as a dynamic force in entertainment. Dubbed one of the Canadians to watch in comedy, Hassan has a rapidly growing fanbase including your favourite rappers and athletes.
The Toronto-native has a track record of selling out theatres across Canada and the U.S. Hassan's comedic stylings combine exceptional storytelling with spontaneous crowd interaction, creating a unique, intimate experience that makes every performance unmissable.
Zubaira Ahmed
Comedian
Zubi Ahmed is a Bangladeshi-American writer, comedian, and filmmaker from New York City. Short in height and temper, Zubi is most aptly described as a homicidal softy on stage and in real life. She effortlessly connects to audiences from all walks of life with her relatable and belligerent humor.
5:00 PM ET, June 11
Watch Party
Curated by the Islamic Scholarship Fund
These films are not official selections of the Tribeca Festival.
Aizzah Fatima (Moderator)
Islamic Scholarship Fund
Aizzah Fatima is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, playwright, comedian, and ex-Google engineer. She has been featured on NPR, The Guardian, Woman’s Hour (BBC), The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time Out, The New York Times, and The Huffington Post. She starred in, produced, and wrote the feature film Americanish which won 25 awards at festivals including jury awards for Best Lead Actress, Best Narrative, and several audience awards. Americanish was released by Sony International for worldwide distribution in November 2023.
Sarah Mokh
“Cigarettes”
Sarah is a filmmaker interested in how our beliefs affect the stories we tell. Her short film, Cigarettes, premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival. Her debut feature was supported by the Sundance Feature Film Program, the Gotham Week Project Market, and the Hamptons Screenwriting Lab, where she was mentored by Celine Song, Michael Covino, and Bart Freundlich. She is currently in post production on the film. Sarah is a graduate of Harvard and NYU.
Serena Rasoul
“Sage Songs”
Serena Rasoul is a PhD student at Columbia University, where she studies Palestinian folklore. Prior to her doctoral studies, she served as the Community Engagement Specialist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, contributing to the Arts of Devotion project. In 2022, she was a Resident Fellow at Harvard Divinity School, where she collaborated with artists from underrepresented communities. Serena is also the founder of MA Casting and Consulting, established in 2021.
Nausheen Dadabhoy
“Halal Bodies”
Nausheen Dadabhoy is a director and cinematographer of both documentaries and fiction. Her most recent short animated documentary, HALAL BODIES, about how Muslim kids learn about sex, premiered at CAAMFest 2026 and is a co-production of iTVS and CAAM. Her second feature documentary, AN ACT OF WORSHIP (2022), premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and was co-produced by PBS’ POV and broadcast nationally. It recounts the last 30 years of Muslim-American history through the collective memory of the community.
6:30 PM ET, June 11
Dinner
8:00 PM ET, June 11
Fireside Chat with Habiba Nosheen & Mo Naqvi
Introduction By Najla Zaidi
Director, MPAC® Hollywood Bureau
Najla Zaidi is an award-winning screenwriter and director. She has written and directed PSAs, short films, music videos and a feature documentary. Najla has consulted on international films and been a writer-for-hire on numerous film and TV projects. In addition, she was a journalist and podcaster for an online Asian news platform, as well as Head of Communications for an international electronics manufacturer.
Najla has earned a MFA in screenwriting from UCLA and is a fellow of AFI’s prestigious Directing Workshop for Women. She is currently Director of the MPAC Hollywood Bureau.
Habiba Nosheen
Director/Producer
Habiba Nosheen is a Pakistani-born Peabody and three-time Emmy award-winning journalist and filmmaker. Her film “Outlawed in Pakistan” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it was called "among the standouts" of Sundance by The Los Angeles Times.
Habiba received the 2025 Chicken and Egg Award. Previously, she was named DOC NYC’s 40 under 40. Her films have been supported by PBS FRONTLINE, JustFilms, The Firelight Media, ITVS, The Center for Asian American Media, CBC, The National Film Board of Canada, Canada Media Fund and others. She has taught filmmaking at Columbia University. She splits her time between Toronto and New York. She is a proud adoptive mom.
Mo Naqvi
Director
A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Mohammed Ali (Mo) Naqvi produced two seasons of the Netflix Original Top 10 docu-series "Turning Point" and received the inaugural Emmy Television Academy Honor for the Showtime Original "Shame."
Mo has won several awards, including two Amnesty International Awards, and earned nominations for an Independent Spirit Award, a Cinema Eye Honor, and the UNESCO-Fellini Prize. His notable documentaries include Emmy-nominated "Among the Believers" (PBS World), Insha'Allah Democracy (Starz), Emmy-nominated and Asia Media Award winner "The Accused: Damned Or Devoted?" (BBC, Arte/ZDF).
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