TheMuslimCreativesSummit

A Somali-American stand-up comedian and digital creator known for sharp observations, relatable storytelling, and high-energy performances. Many fans know him from his viral comedy, but he's built a strong presence on stage — the Laugh Factory in LA, festivals, opening for established comedians, and headlining sold-out shows. His comedy blends culture, family, and everyday life with quick wit and a distinct point of view.

Richie Reseda practices transformative justice in his daily life. He is a formerly-incarcerated music and film producer, cultural organizer, and creative director. He produced the Emmy-nominated Netflix film, SONGS FROM THE HOLE, and its original music. He co-created and co-hosted the Spotify Original podcast, Abolition X. While in prison, he founded the worker-owned media collective Question Culture, and co-founded Success Stories, the feminist-accountability program chronicled in the CNN documentary, “The Feminist on Cell Block Y.”

Abdi Ibrahim is a Somali-American film director and photographer based in Los Angeles and New York. Known for his work across commercials, music videos, and editorial photography, he has created campaigns for brands like Apple Music, Lacoste, and the NFL.

Najla serves as the director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau, where she supports the Bureau in changing the narrative of Islam and American Muslims in the entertainment media space. Prior to joining MPAC, Najla worked as a journalist and podcaster for an Asian news platform and Head of Communications for an international corporation. She is also an award-winning screenwriter and director, a fellow of the American Film Institute's prestigious Directing Workshop for Women, and has earned an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA. Najla is passionate about making films that cross borders and open hearts.

Saman Hassan is a multi-hyphenate artist, actress, writer and producer. Alongside her creative pursuits, she leads Strategy at TikTok, reminding us that art and innovation can exist side by side.

Idil Ibrahim is an award-winning writer-director and creative producer working across television, narrative film, and documentary. Her credits include Apple TV+'s Little America and the Queen Collective documentary In Her Element, which premiered at Tribeca and aired on BET. Her narrative short Sega won the BlackStar Film Festival Jury Award and the Golden Dhow at the Zanzibar International Film Festival. A TIFF Writers' Studio alumna and SFFILM Rainin Fellow, Ibrahim creates emotionally grounded, visually distinctive stories shaped by global experience, cultural specificity, and complex characters navigating ambition, identity, and belonging.

Carolyn McDonald is an award-winning producer, writer, director, and screenwriting educator whose career spans Warner Bros., Danny Glover's Carrie Productions, HBO, TNT, and 20th Century Fox. She executive produced the Emmy- and NAACP Image Award-winning films Freedom Song and America's Dream, and has written, directed, and produced acclaimed projects across film and television. A passionate advocate for emerging filmmakers, Carolyn has mentored young artists through leading film programs, served as a festival juror and speaker around the world, and hosts Stage 5 with NewFilmmakers LA, where she interviews independent filmmakers. She currently teaches screenwriting at the New York Film Academy, helping shape the next generation of storytellers.