Leading up to and throughout Ramadan, we’ll be highlighting the filmmaking process for “Ramadan America,” Rifelion Media's first-of-its-kind film anthology written by, directed by and starring American Muslims.
The next of the short films featured in “Ramadan America” is called “The Eid Gift,” which follows a husband and father as he struggles to find the perfect way to celebrate Eid for his wife and daughter.
Moneer Yaqubi stars as Khalid Ahmed, a successful small business owner, father to Amira and husband to Fatima. Khalid is experiencing a recent grief that is manifesting as a crisis of faith. His memories of the loved one he’s grieving are closely tied to memories of Eid and going to the Masjid. He strives to hide this emotional baggage from his family and is just barely keeping it all together.
Jenna Bosco plays Fatima, Khalid’s wife and Amira’s mother. She acts as a support system for Khalid, helping him work through his grief.
Solyana Girum plays Amira, Khalid and Fatima’s pre-teen daughter. Amira is a daddy’s girl, but that doesn’t stop her from being involved in her local community Eid celebrations.
Anwar Molani is a doctor by day and actor by night. He plays Dad, Soniya and Yasmeen’s family patriarch, in the “Ramadan America” short “In The Meantime.”
For Samia Khan and Akram Shibly, Sundance wasn't just a film festival; it was a transformative journey that intertwined professional growth with spiritual nourishment.
