Framing Identity

Framing Identity: SWANA Filmmakers on Storytelling and Community

Join us for a conversation with filmmaker Justin Mashouf and actor, writer, producer, and director Rhym Guissé as we explore how SWANA filmmakers shape identity, storytelling, and community through their work.

This panel is part of MuslimARC’s Many Histories, One Struggle series, in recognition of SWANA Heritage Month.

About the Conversation

This is a curated discussion designed to move beyond surface-level conversations about representation. Each panelist will engage questions grounded in their own creative practice, reflecting on both the craft of storytelling and the political and cultural contexts that shape their work.

Together, we will explore:

• What it means to tell stories with intention
• How filmmakers navigate identity, power, and responsibility
• The role of storytelling in shaping community and public understanding
• How creative work contributes to broader movements for justice

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM PT
Location: Livestream on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIN

Speakers

Justin Mashouf
Filmmaker & Artist

Justin Mashouf is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and artist. His work explores borders, belonging, and the complexities of Muslim identity through documentary and visual storytelling. His award-winning projects include The Honest Struggle, and his documentary Warring Factions follows his journey to Iran, where he connects with young break dancers through a shared creative language. Mashouf’s work brings together political context, personal encounter, and artistic experimentation.

Rhym Guissé
Actor, Writer, Producer & Director

Rhym Guissé is a Los Angeles-based actor, writer, producer, and director. Born in Algeria to an Algerian mother and Malian father, her work is shaped by movement across cultures and a deep engagement with questions of identity, belonging, and representation. She has worked across acting, screenwriting, creative development, and production, and her creative practice centers emotionally grounded storytelling that reflects the complexity of diasporic life.

About the Series

Many Histories, One Connected Struggle is a three-month MuslimARC series exploring the connections between Africa, the SWANA region, and Asia through history, migration, faith, storytelling, and collective struggle. Through curated conversations, public education, and cultural engagement, the series highlights the relationships and solidarities that continue to shape our communities today.

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