MEDIA ADVISORY: "The Mosquers" Muslim Film Festival Returns to Edmonton Sept 17-20, 2026 with Mahershala Ali’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother

EDMONTON, Alberta, Sept. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- General admission tickets are now on sale for The Mosquers Film Festival 2026, the world's largest Muslim film and arts festival, returning to Edmonton for its 18th year. A celebration of Muslim talent, creativity, and diversity across industries, the weekend is expected to draw thousands of film lovers from across North America.

This year's lineup offers public screenings of short films from emerging filmmakers alongside World and Canadian feature premieres. Fresh off its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother, starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, will close out the festival Sunday evening. The weekend will also include the directorial debut of 2024 Mosquers Award winner Ilhan Abdullahi – highlighting the role Mosquers has played in fostering local Muslim talent.

The weekend’s main event, Mosquers’ 18th Annual Awards and Gala, held Saturday at the Winspear Centre, will be an evening of storytelling, comedy, and live performances, featuring Saudi singer-songwriter Tamtam, and Alberta-based comedian Faris Hytiaa, followed by the Popcorn Afterparty.

The annual festival weekend includes “Opening Credits” – a weekend of industry programming, including Speed Networking and its fourth annual Script & Pitch Competition, offering a share of $1,000 in prizes.

Media are welcome to attend both the public Mosquers Film Festival events, and invite-only Opening Credits Industry Conference.

Contact: Yasir Iqbal, Outreach & Artists Relations - yasir@themosquers.com

BACKGROUND:
"The Mosquers" combines the words Mosque and The Oscars — a space for the talented creative community that identifies as Muslim, telling universal stories. What began in 2006 as a local short film competition has grown into an annual film festival and non-profit organization, running year-round programming that empowers Muslim creatives and uses entertainment to build understanding of the Canadian Muslim experience. www.themosquers.com

MOSQUERS GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETED EVENTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH - METRO CINEMA

6:00pm – Incubator Showcase: Premiere screenings of four short films from the Class of 2026 Mosquers Incubator Program, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Flagged (dir. Areeha Mahal), Grace (dir. Sarah Stupbar), Like Mother Used to Make (dir. Azria Khan), Soo Hoyo (Come Home) (dir. Elwaad Osman)

8:30pm – Opening Feature, World Premiere: Lifeline (dir. Ilhan Abdullahi), followed by a Q&A with the director and cast/crew. Co-presented with Myrrha Room.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH - EDMONTON CITY CENTRE LANDMARK

9:30pm – Canadian Premiere: Lali, (dir. Sarmad Sultan Khoosat)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH

Landmark City Centre
12:00pm – Short Film Block: six short films from Muslim filmmakers worldwide

Landmark City Centre 
1:15pm – Alberta Premiere: Cotton Queen (dir. Suzannah Mirghani), co-presented with Frames of Sudan and the Sudan Solidarity Collection

Winspear Centre
5:00pm – MAIN EVENT: 18th Annual Mosquers Film Festival Awards Gala, with performances by Tamtam and Faris Hytiaa, followed immediately by the Popcorn Afterparty.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH - LANDMARK CITY CENTRE

1:15pm – North American Premiere: Strawberries (dir. Laïla Marrakchi)

4:00pm – Alberta Premiere: Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother (dir. Bassam Tariq)

“OPENING CREDITS”: INVITE-ONLY INDUSTRY EVENTS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH - EDMONTON CONVENTION CENTRE

1:30–3:00pm – Industry Speed Networking: one-on-one conversations with funders, screen industry organizations, and film festival representatives for early-career industry professionals.

5:00pm – In Conversation with Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, followed by a reception.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH - COURTYARD MARRIOTT

10:00am – Panel: Alternative Paths: Rethinking Film Distribution, exploring approaches to film distribution beyond traditional theatrical and streaming models

1:00pm – Mosquers X Rifelion Script & Pitch Competition: live pitches from finalists competing for a share of $1,000 in prizes, in the fourth year of Mosquers' partnership with Rifelion Media