Announcing 15 Filmmakers Supported by 2025 Building Bridges Documentary Fund 

Building Bridges Documentary Fund 2025
Top Row (L to R) Ali Al-Arian, Zeshawn Ali, Akram Shibly, Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, Colette Ghunim Middle Row (L to R) Sara Chishti, Razi Jafri, Aisha Jama, Yusuf Ahmed, Yumna Patel Bottom Row (L to R) Sura Mallouh, Hisham Aidi, Khaula Malik, Sofian Khan, Zuff Shoya
U.S. Muslim narratives shine at The Muslim House with panel programs highlighting new directions in filmmaking

At the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, we announced the inaugural cohort of 15 Building Bridges Fundees, whose films will receive support as part of the Building Bridges Documentary Fund, a groundbreaking program made possible by a $4.5 million grant from the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF) Building Bridges Program. The initiative invests in storytelling about the U.S. Muslim experiences, with the aim of fostering greater representation and understanding of Muslim communities in the United States by growing the canon of documentaries.

The 15 projects funded in the inaugural cohort of CAAM’s Building Bridges Documentary Fund span diverse themes, including explorations of intergenerational relationships, music, love, and social justice.


 “With genres ranging from docu-horror to experiential to investigative films, these works highlight the vibrancy and complexity of U.S. Muslim stories and contribute to a media landscape that leads with Muslim protagonists, their experiences, and points- of-view,” says Leila Abu-saada, CAAM’s Building Bridges Documentary Fund Manager. “The review for this fund was rigorous and competitive and the panel awarded films that met several criteria including works that widen the aperture of what it feels like to be Muslim in the U.S.” 

The following fundees will receive grants ranging from $25,000-100,000, for works, in various phases of production (*asterisk indicates filmmakers who will be in attendance at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival):

  • Alien Nation, Khaula Malik*
  • Tacabbir: A Somali Odyssey in NYC (working title), Aisha Jama
  • The Nile Splits, Zuff Shoya
  • Karachi Sky, Sofian Khan
  • The Jazz Caliphate – The Soulful Rhythms of Faith, Hisham Aidi
  • The night before the truce (working title), Yumna Patel
  • Untitled Project,  Sura Mallouh
  • Chosen Fathers: Healing Through Brotherhood, Mobolaji Olambiwonnu*
  • Love Belt, Yusuf Ahmed*
  • Taxi Driver, Sara Chishti
  • Thank You for Thinking of Me, Akram Shibly
  • Untitled Palestine Film, Ali Al-Arian & David Riker
  • Uncommitted, Razi Jafri
  • Traces of Home, Colette Ghunim
  • Junoon (working title), Zeshawn Ali

Learn More About the Building Bridges Documentary Fund 2024-25 Films

“Our culture is influenced by bold filmmakers who use their creativity to tell untold stories that reflect our shared humanity. The DDF Building Bridges program is proud to continue to find new pathways of opportunity for U.S. Muslim stories to be illuminated and reach new audiences,” said Zeyba Rahman, Director of the DDF Building Bridges Program. “This year’s Sundance Film Festival is a moment for us to be in community, celebrate our achievements, and work towards continued progress for the future of the entertainment industry.”

To further their commitment to elevating U.S. Muslim stories, Doris Duke Foundation’s Building Bridges program has also established a new travel fund, administered by CAAM, to provide filmmakers with the resources needed to participate in and have a presence at major national events and festivals that shape the entertainment industry.

For the second year, DDF’s Building Bridges Program also serves as lead sponsor of The Muslim House at the Sundance Film Festival, an event presented by the Muslim Public Affairs Council Hollywood Bureau (MPAC) since 2016. Taking place January 26–27 at Pine Cone Ridge in Park City, Utah, The Muslim House will feature programming centered on community, creativity, and collaboration, along with insights from leaders of MPAC, CAAM, DDF, and a wide range of talented voices. Under the leadership of the Muslim Public Affairs Council Hollywood Bureau, The Muslim House serves as a welcome gathering space for industry leaders and diverse filmmakers and enthusiasts to celebrate the evolution and success of Muslim storytelling across the U.S.

“For the betterment of society, the entertainment industry must be a mirror reflecting stories that authentically resonate with viewers and their lived experiences, and help foster empathy and understanding,” said Sam Gill, President and CEO of the Doris Duke Foundation. “Through this inaugural cohort of Building Bridges Fellows, we are proudly investing in under-represented U.S. Muslim stories, and we look forward to unlocking new resources to help drive the future of representational filmmaking at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and beyond.”

For more information about Doris Duke Foundation’s Building Bridges Program and grant opportunities visit: https://www.dorisduke.org/funding-areas/building-bridges/

About Doris Duke Foundation

The mission of Doris Duke Foundation is to build a more creative, equitable and sustainable future by investing in artists and the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, child well-being and greater mutual understanding among diverse communities. Visit www.dorisduke.org to learn more.

About Building Bridges Program

Through the Building Bridges Program, Doris Duke Foundation supports national efforts, working with U.S. Muslims, to increase mutual understanding and well-being among diverse populations for the benefit of building stronger, inclusive communities. The program is anchored in the conviction that strategic use of the arts and media can help provide an effective social prescription for achieving this vision.

About CAAM

For over 40 years, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) has been dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. As a nonprofit organization, CAAM funds, produces, distributes, and exhibits works in film, television, and digital media.