The Muslim Film Festival harnesses cinema to explore Muslim affairs beyond the headlines, for audiences of all backgrounds. Pressing social and civic issues – including women’s equality, censorship, and multicultural identity – come into focus through screenings followed by panel discussions and artistic performances. Launched in 2008 in Boston, the annual “festival of ideas” also provides a forum to advance public understanding of the diversity of Muslim-American cultural identity. Films screened range from Oscar-nominated releases from major studies to underground films by emerging Muslim-American filmmakers.