MIFF Programme

Panel discussions BFI New Talent / Friday 31 May / 17:00 Want to find out more about the business of making films? Hear from industry experts at the BFI Filmmaking fund and BFI Film Academy who will discuss how they work with emerging filmmakers in this panel discussion event. The session will cover everything from applying for funding to supporting sustainable careers.

Meet the Funders / Sat 1 June 10:00 Curious about navigating the world of filmmaking, securing funding and sustaining your craft in today's industry? Join us for an insightful panel discussion with commissioners from across the industry including BBC, Film4 and BFI.

Meet the Filmmakers / Sat 1 June 11:30 This panel will include established and new filmmakers, including talent from the 2024 MIFF programme. They will show examples of their work and discuss the current challenges facing the film industry, as well as answer audience questions.

London 2024

Hello and Salam!

If you are reading this, then you have already joined the celebration of authentic storytelling centred on Islamic faith and Muslim culture. Welcome! Through the camera lens, we bring forward the most beautiful stories, told authentically and unapologetically from within. The length and breadth of the Muslim experience is vast, and our stories proudly reflect this diversity in all its nuance and vibrancy.

The world of film and media has come a long way, maturing into realising that tired tropes and one dimensional portrayals of Islam and Muslims simply won’t do anymore.

Audiences have higher standards, the creative industry is buzzing with Muslim filmmaking talent and the world has never before needed to come together over our shared humanity more.

We cannot know what we don’t understand, and we cannot understand until we have honest and meaningful conversations. Through the films, conversations, and connections here today, we hope to bring forward the narratives that resonate and challenge us. And we hope to do it while having a fantastic time too! We are thrilled you are joining us for our inaugural festival and your presence alone makes you integral and so valued.

A huge heartfelt thank you to our industry partners, generous supporters, and the extraordinary filmmakers whose dreams have brought us together.

Breaking Barriers / Sun 2 June 10:00

Enjoy the festival as we discover worlds and change perceptions together.

Industry experts join us to discuss how we can work together to challenge barriers faced by newcomers to the film industry. Panelists will include representatives from BAFTA, Channel 4, and the Film and TV Charity.

Sajid Varda, Founder & Festival Director

The festival will also feature industry networking events, visit TheMiff.net for more details

Festival Information The 2024 Muslim International Film Festival will take place at Odeon Luxe West End 38a Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DX

Schedule Thursday 30 May

18:30

Opening Film : Hounds

Friday 31 May

17:00 18:20 21:10

Panel: BFI: New Talent Goodbye Julia Hesitation Wound

Saturday 1 June

10:00 11:30 13:10 15:30 18:20 21:00

Panel: Meet the Funders Panel: Meet the Filmmakers Empty Nets A Reckoning Of Hearts + Q&A Sky Peals + Q&A Behind The Mountains

Sunday 2 June

10:00 12:10 14:45 17:30

Panel: Breaking Barriers Echoes of Resistance + Q&A Inshallah a Boy Closing Film & Awards - In Camera + Q&A

Tickets are available from TheMiff.net / Eventbrite Tickets are non refundable and non transferable Events are open to those aged 18 and over only unless otherwise specified.

Prayer facilities available If you have any access requirements or require a carer ticket please get in touch with us at info@themiff.net

Films. Talks. Networking. Awards. www.TheMiff.net @muslimfilmfest #MIFF

30 MAY - 2 JUNE

MUSLIM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Discovering worlds, changing perspectives.

Films. Talks. Networking. Awards. www.TheMiff.net @muslimfilmfest #MIFF Supported by

A Reckoning Of Hearts Shorts Programme

Opening Night Film

Hounds (Les Meutes)

Saturday 1 June / 15:30

Dir: Kamal Lazraq | 94 mins | 15 Cert

The films are followed by a Q&A

Thursday 30 May / 18:30

Muna

A kidnapping job goes awry for a fatherson crime duo, leading to a chaotic night as they confront an unexpected challenge with no turning back.

Set in the gritty streets of Casablanca, father-and-son duo Hassan (Abdellah Lebkiri) and Issam (Ayoub Elaid) imbue the film with an authentic and immersive viewing experience, defined by Lazraq’s decision to cast non-actors.

LONDON PREMIERE

Dir: Warda Mohamed | 19 mins

See You In The Dark LONDON PREMIERE

UK PREMIERE

Goodbye Julia

Hesitation Wound

Empty Nets

Friday 31 May / 18:20

Friday 31 May / 21:10

Saturday 1 June / 13:10

Set on the brink of the secession of South Sudan, Mona is wracked with guilt after causing the death of a Southern man and covering her tracks. Seeking redemption, she hires his wife as her maid, and as tensions rise the two women form an unlikely bond.

Canan juggles her duties as a criminal defence attorney and tending to her comatose mother. On the day of a sentencing hearing for a murder trial, she is presented with difficulties that will have unexpected consequences on the lives of her defendant, the judge and her mother.

Dir: Mohamed Kordofani | 120 mins

Dir: Selman Nacar | 84 mins

Dir: Behrooz Karamizade | 101 mins

In a wholesome pursuit of young love, working-class Amir wants nothing more than to marry his clandestine upper-class girlfriend Narges. But his determination to get the approval of her family and pay her hefty dowry quickly leads him down a dangerous journey into the gritty depths of Iran’s fisheries.

Dir: Asena Nour | 18 mins

Now and Then

Dir: Harris Alvi | 17 mins

The Call

Dir: Riffy Ahmed | 14 mins

Simo

Dir: Aziz Zoromba | 23 mins

Dammi

Dir: Yann Mounir Demange | 19 mins

Closing Night Film

In Camera

Dir: Naqqash Khalid | 96 mins

Sunday 2 June / 17:30 Mancunian director Naqqash Khalid’s debut feature film, In Camera, is a satire offering a dream-like eeriness and take on the trials of the acting industry through the eyes of Aden (played by Nabhaan Rizwaan), a young Asian actor. After a series of catastrophic auditions, Aden takes the lead in finding a new character to play.

Echoes Of Resistance Shorts Programme

Sky Peals

Dir: Moin Hussain | 91 mins

Saturday 1 June / 18:20

Khalid invites viewers on a surreal, mind-bender through the challenges faced

by Asian individuals, prompting them to question their aspirations within a racist system inherently biased against them.

Feeling detached from the world around him, service station worker Adam receives devastating news about his estranged father, while uncovering mysteries of who that man really was

Followed by a Q&A with director Naqqash Khalid, and the festival Awards ceremony.

Followed by Q&A with actor Faraz Ayub

Behind The Mountains

Inshallah a Boy

Saturday 1 June / 21:00

In a fight against Jordanian patriarchal laws, a widow pretends to be pregnant so she can save her daughter and home.

Dir: Mohamed Ben Attia | 98 mins

After serving a four-year sentence for vandalising his workplace, Rafik has one singular plan, to take his son to the mountains and reveal his remarkable discovery.

Dir: Amjad Al Rasheed | 113 mins

Sunday 2 June / 14:45

Sunday 2 June / 12:10

The films are followed by a Q&A

Yellow

Dir: Elham Ehsas | 13 mins

I Carry It With Me Everywhere Dir: Arwa Aburawa & Turab Shah | 19 mins

Suddenly TV

Dir: Roopa Gogineni | 19 mins

An Orange From Jaffa

Dir: Mohammed Almughanni | 27 mins

Things Unheard Of (2023) Dir: Ramazan Kilic | 16 mins