In this week’s episode, host Asad Butt interviews Samia Khan and Akram Shibly, two filmmakers from the Islamic Scholarship Fund’s cohort attending the Sundance Film Festival.
Rifelion’s flagship podcast, “American Muslim Project,” has released a new episode that focuses on the important issues facing the American Muslim community today. The show, which focuses on the Muslims who are shaping America, continually brings new segments and focus to the show to emphasize the news and culture American Muslims are immersed in every day.
Later, Butt interviews Samia Khan and Akram Shibly, two filmmakers from the Islamic Scholarship Fund’s cohort attending the Sundance Film Festival. Khan and Shibly are currently working on documentary projects and were recent participants in an artist support program at Sundance. Along with the host, Khan and Shibly chat about the supportive and collaborative atmosphere within the Muslim creative community, their experiences at Sundance and the exceptional projects they are working on, which connect personal narratives to global themes.
In 2020, Asad Butt launched Rifelion Media to help elevate diverse voices, with “American Muslim Project” as the company’s first production. Butt is also a startup advisor and investor, primarily working with pet care and education founders, as well as accelerator programs. Prior to his work in the startup industry, Butt worked in broadcast television and video production. In 2004, he helped launch Bridges TV, the first American Muslim lifestyle network, serving as its first news director, producer and anchor.
New episodes of “American Muslim Project” release every Thursday. Listen to the latest episode — “Muslim Filmmakers on Sundance” — below, or catch up wherever you listen to podcasts.
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.
On this week’s episode, Khan and Butt share the story of a young Black man named Michael Griffith, who was killed on December 20, 1986, at the young age of 23.
