Film, Media, and Storytelling With Purpose
A structured, professional filmmaking program for Muslims who want to master storytelling without compromising faith, ethics, or excellence.
Coming Soon • Live Instruction • Limited Seats
Program Overview
Film & Cinema Studies
The Film & Cinema Studies Diploma at Al-Ezz Academy trains Muslim creatives in the full craft of filmmaking while grounding their work in Islamic ethics, responsibility, and purpose.
Students study the same core disciplines taught in leading film schools, while developing the moral clarity required to tell stories that uplift, challenge false narratives, and reflect Islamic values.
This program treats media as an amanah, not entertainment for its own sake.
Why This Program Exists
Muslims are often misrepresented or erased in global media.
Aspiring Muslim filmmakers face a false choice: compromise faith or abandon the craft.
The Ummah needs storytellers trained professionally and grounded ethically.
This program exists to remove that false choice.
Al-Ezz provides a halal, disciplined, and professional pathway to master filmmaking without entering unethical environments.
January 2026 Semester: What You’ll Study
Students begin the Film & Cinema Studies Diploma with two foundational courses designed to build strong creative and technical fundamentals.
Course 1:
Intro to Screenwriting
Focus: Story, structure, and character
What you’ll learn:
- How professional stories are built from concept to screenplay
- Narrative structure, character development, and visual storytelling
- How to write and complete Act One of an original script
Outcome:
By the end of the course, students complete a polished Act One of an original screenplay.
Course 2:
Intro to Film
Focus: Film language and cinematic thinking
What you’ll learn:
- How films communicate meaning through image, sound, and editing
- Core filmmaking concepts used by professional directors
- How to analyze and break down films with technical and ethical awareness
Outcome:
Students gain the foundational visual literacy required for directing, editing, and cinematography.
Course 3:
Prophetic Leadership
Focus: Islamic philosophy of stewardship and self-discipline
What you’ll learn:
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How leadership is rooted in the Qur’anic concept of trust and responsibility
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Practical tools for time management, habit-tracking, and overcoming procrastination
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How to apply shura (consultation) and sincerity in decision-making
Outcome:
By the end of the course, students develop a personal Leadership Mission Statement and a habit-based framework for continuous personal growth.
Still have questions about the program and courses?
Connect with our academic team to get them answered.
How we can help:
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Get answers to specific questions about the curriculum or schedule
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Learn more about the student experience and learning platform
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Discuss any technical or administrative needs before you begin
Our academic advisors will provide personalized guidance to help you navigate the enrollment process, manage your course workload, and prepare for a successful semester.
Both courses are delivered live online with workshops, discussion, and instructor feedback.
Who This Program Is For
Muslims ages 18–35 pursuing filmmaking seriously
Creatives seeking a halal alternative to traditional film schools
Storytellers who want their work to serve truth, justice, and daʿwah
Students who value structure, mentorship, and discipline
Who This Program Is Not For
Those looking for casual or short-term content courses
Those unwilling to commit to creative rigor
Those seeking fame without responsibility
By the End of the Program, You Will
Write and develop original screenplays
Understand cinematic storytelling from script to screen
Develop professional creative habits and workflows
Create stories grounded in Islamic ethics
Gain confidence to work in media without compromising iman
Passionate About Learning But Need Support?
Apply for our limited scholarships — created to make sure finances don’t hold you back.
Curriculum Structure
Across the diploma, students progress through a structured sequence covering:
Screenwriting and advanced writing
Cinematography and visual language
Editing and post-production
Documentary filmmaking and producing
Alternative cinema and ethical storytelling
Integrated Islamic worldview and media ethics
Learn From Industry Professionals
Courses are taught by experienced filmmakers and media professionals with backgrounds in film, television, and documentary production, combined with Islamic guidance and accountability.
Dr. Yasser Shahin
Instructor | Intro to Film
Dr Yasser Shahin is a professor, filmmaker, and published author with an MFA in Television and Screenwriting and a BA in Film. He has taught screenwriting, worked with Al Jazeera, and consulted for Hollywood productions. A Qur’an reciter with ijazah, he bridges art and spirituality, training students to tell stories that uplift, educate, and inspire.
Ust. Omar Ashmawey
Instructor | Film & Cinema Studies Program
Omar Ashmawey is a filmmaker, director, and screenwriter committed to reshaping how Muslim and Middle Eastern characters are portrayed in media. He holds a minor in Film Studies from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy. His work spans film and television, including his distributed directorial debut Boiling Pot (2015) and Oblivium (2025), with recognition at festivals such as SXSW and the Catalina Film Festival. He currently serves as Director of Media at Yaqeen Institute, focusing on authentic, community-rooted storytelling that challenges Hollywood stereotypes.
How the Program Is Delivered
Live online classes via MS Teams
Real-time interaction with instructors
Workshops, table reads, and critiques
Guided assignments and structured feedback
About Accreditation
This program is non-accredited by design.
Our priority is depth, mentorship, ethical formation, and real creative mastery rather than bureaucratic credentials.
Pricing:
One-time payment
One-time Payment (per semester): $3,000 CAD
Installment
Installment Plan (per semester): 3 monthly payments of $1,200 CAD
Create Stories That Matter
Media shapes hearts before it shapes opinions. If Muslims do not tell their stories with excellence and integrity, others will tell them for us. This program is for those ready to carry that responsibility.
Program begins the week of Jan. 12 • Limited seats