NY’s New Muslim Film Festival Seeks Fresh Stories While Denver’s Fest Opens With Rocky Parody

Manhattan’s inaugural Muslim Film Festival is set to open at the SVA Theatre, aiming to shake off the usual flat stereotypes that have long defined Muslim characters in Western media. The organizers are pushing for a more nuanced lineup, hoping to move past the tired counter-narratives that often reduce complex identities to simple punchlines.

The festival’s jury, which includes a former Broadway producer and a culinary critic, will judge a mix of indie dramas and documentaries. Meanwhile, across the country, the Denver Film Festival is taking a different approach by opening with a Rocky parody, signaling a lighter, more traditional start to its own season.