MOSQUERS FILM FESTIVAL 2024

AGENDA

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion featuring MA Casting founder Serena Rasoul, award-winning poet Muna Abdulahi from the hit Netflix show The Mole Season 2, and Jennifer Wickham, director of the acclaimed documentary Yintah. The panel will delve into the power of art as a tool for activism, followed by a reception to connect with other creatives and industry professionals.

Close out opening night with an unforgettable jam session at the Courtyard Edmonton Downtown. In collaboration with Lost Poet Studio and GAMA, we're facilitating an open mic and jam session available to all festival attendees. With a full band setup and an open invitation to artists of all levels, this session is all about coming together, just as you are. Whether you're here to perform or simply vibe with others, this is a safe space to find community, support, and inspiration. Plus, recordings from the jam session will be put together as an EP, capturing the magic of the night.

Get insights from comedy veterans Dave Merheje, Malik Elassal, and Sabeen Sadiq as they share their experiences and tips on navigating the comedy industry. This panel is a must-attend for anyone looking to make a mark in the world of comedy.

Join the creators of the hit CBC Gem show Get Up, Aisha (2024), Marushka Almeida, Nisha Khan and Rabiya Mansoor, for an engaging discussion about the making of the show, their creative process, and the impact of their work. This panel will provide an inside look at one of the most exciting new shows in Canadian television.

Experience the excitement of live pitches from our finalists and discover who will win a share of $1,000 in prizes! This live competition is your chance to witness groundbreaking ideas and emerging talent in action.

Our main event will be an unforgettable evening of short films and performances hosted by comedian Malik Elassal. The lineup includes:

• Performance by Nemahsis: Experience a live performance by Palestinian-Canadian singer-songwriter Nemahsis, also known as Nemah Hasan. With over 1.2 million followers on TikTok, Nemahsis has become a sensation for her stunning original music and engaging performances. Her latest hit, “Stick of Gum,” was filmed at her family’s home in Jericho, West Bank.

• Poetry Recitation by Muna Abdulahi: You might recognize Muna Abdulahi from her appearance on Netflix’s The Mole Season 2, where a hijabi Muslim woman made waves in a social-strategy reality game show. Beyond this, Muna is an award-winning spoken word poet whose powerful recitations will add a special touch to the evening.

• Standup Comedy by Malik Elassal: Known for his ability to connect with diverse audiences, Malik uses his comedic talent to explore the universal human experience and his own. His accolades include winning Top Comic in Calgary, recording sets for television at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and CBC's New Wave of Standup, and performing the titular track on the Just For Laughs originals album Yeehaw Hell Yeah.

Join us in a visually stunning space designed for networking and connection. This vibrant event offers the perfect opportunity to mingle with fellow creatives, celebrate Muslim achievements in the arts, and continue the conversations sparked throughout the day!

We are thrilled to present the screening of The Teacher, directed by BAFTA winner and Oscar nominee Farah Nabulsi. This compelling film was featured at TIFF last year. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A session with Director Farah Nabulsi.

HOTEL

courtyard marriot

TRANSPORT

The cost of an Uber one way from the airport to the Courtyard Marriott Downtown Edmonton is roughly $50. Please be aware of construction and road closures at Edmonton International Airport (YEG). For more information, see https://flyeia.com/.

• There is also an option to take public transportation for less than $5 one way that takes about an hour. Take the 747 Bus from the airport to Century Park Transit Centre. From there, you can take the LRT to Central Station, which is a 4 minute walk to the Courtyard Marriott Downtown. 

• Many of our guests are already on our #transport channel in the Slack workspace to coordinate sharing rides with others on the same flight and arriving at the same time. We highly encourage you to do the same, if you’re comfortable. 

JUmmah

Here are some Jummah options:

IFSSA - Islamic Family and Social Services Association

10545 108 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5H 2Z8

Jummah times:

2:00 pm

MAC at McDougall United

10086 MacDonald Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 2B7

Jummah times:

2:00 pm

MASjid Quba

10210 118 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5G 0P6

Jummah times:

2:00 pm

3:00 pm

Al Rashid Mosque

13070 113 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5E 5A8

Jummah times:

1:30pm

2:45pm

MAC Mosque

6104 172 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6M 1G9

Jummah times:

2:00pm

3:00pm

EXPLORE EDMONTON

West Edmonton Mall

The largest mall in North America and the only one with a pirate ship, amusement park, water park, and a multi level go-karting track.

Telus world of scienCe

Get your nerd on and check out the Telus World of Science! Features all kinds of immersive science exhibits. Including, the Zeidler Dome, a one of a kind planetarium theater that holds different shows about the atoms in the sky. My recommendation is Aurorae, no need to drive up north when you can lay down and watch the northern lights in a whole new way.

Fort Edmonton Park

Check out the original building of Canada's oldest Mosque and explore Edmonton's living history exhibit at Fort Edmonton Park.

Muttart Conservatory

Check out the beautiful Muttart Conservatory - open late on Thursday night if you happen to be arriving early.

Whyte Ave

Walk Whyte Ave and get a sense of Edmonton's eclectic nightlife.

The Aga Khan Gardens

A bit of a drive away and are operating on limited hours (11AM - 5PM on Saturday and Sunday) but absolutely worth checking out! A beautiful outdoor wonderland in both the summer and winter with some incredible natural beauty on display.

Elk Island

Just outside of Edmonton, Elk Island has amazing hikes, real life bison, and if the sky is clear, is a great place to check out the northern lights!

Victoria Park/ Legislature

Go for a skate at any of the hundreds of community skating rinks, or under the lights at the Legislature building! 

West Edmonton Mall water park

Waves, surfing, water slides, palm trees?! Fresh popcorn and a warm pretzel? ZIPLINE?! You will never feel exhilaration like when you’re just hanging out on the stairs for the water slide and then you hear the HUUUUEEEEENNNNGGGG (whale noise) and then it's all screaming as the masses pour from the slides and attractions around and dive into the wave pool to be swallowed by waves taller than man.

For more information on things to do and see during your stay in Edmonton, check out Explore Edmonton.

food

Your Edmonton experience wouldn’t be complete without being blessed by our halal food scene! With so many spots and such little time, our friends at YegHalal have curated a list of incredible halal spots that may actually have you planning a return trip to E-town!

Karahi Point

The original 6ix spot opened in Edmonton earlier this year. Pioneers in the Pakistani food scene - they’ve got all the karahi, all the bbq, and it’s all authentic! (All halal)

Mokha Café 

A great anytime coffee/dessert space and absolutely bouncing at all hours. No better way to end the festival than with a cup of yemeni adani tea and a slice of housemade Lotus Biscoff cheesecake. (All halal)

Best Kebab

Ok so they don’t get style points for the name, but they stay true to it. Turkish cuisine, lavish drinks, and they come correct every single time. (All halal)

Mr. Halal Burger

Edmonton has so many great halal burger spots, but Mr Halal Burger does it simple and so good. Never disappoints. (All halal obv)

Rob’s Famous Fried Chicken

Holy smokes, Nashville chicken tendies bigger than your face, the hot is HOT, and sauce is the SAUCE! (All halal chicken)

Jerusalem Shawarma

From grab and go to a crew night out, Jerusalem always hits the spot! It’s busy for good reason, the mixed platters are perfection, plus they’re the only thing from Calgary we kinda love! (All halal)

Seoul Fried Chicken

Seriously who doesn’t like Korean fried chicken? SFC just introduced halal options available on pre-order, and it will blow you away. Think saucy, juicy, crispy followed by a food coma. Cilantro lime and garlic soy are fire, and don’t sleep on the sides… (Pre-order halal)

Lahore in Town

Authentic Pakistani food isn’t YEG’s forte, so when LIT opened, it shook us. The shinwari karahi will give you all the feels, get comfortable though, they take their sweet time but it’s worth the wait, no cap. (All halal)

Smokin’ Barrels

A fusion of Mexican and Colombian cuisine that bumps on all levels. Stick to what you know (yes that means birria), grab a horchata and let the magic take over. It’s a cozy spot, like reaallly cozy, but dining-in is really the only way to truly enjoy this gem. (Halal beef only)

D-Spot

Ok they have food, but you know why they’re on here. D-Spot does desserts well – they open late on weekends, and everything is over the top goodness that you can share amongst friends or just smash on your own because why not. (All halal)

Other solid recommendations include:

Primetime Donair

Donairs and Edmonton are in a long term relationship, and PT keeps that bond tight! (All halal)

Dickey’s BBQ Pit

A carnivorous paradise, slow smoked texas style bbq (All halal)

Ruth’s Chris

Ready to splurge? The halal steak is unreal. (Pre-order halal)

Kabsa

The chicken mandi is so simple, but so incredibly delicious. (All halal)