KHUTBAH
Short Film

Project Type: Short Film
Project Status: Pre-Production
Director, Writer and Actor: Gulet Isse
Producer: Caro Knapp and Giovanna Trujillo
Director of Photography: Sade Nyda

LOGLINE

When the first boy he ever loved visits town, disrupting his tenuous marriage, a closeted sheikh (Muslim priest) must face his inner truth.

SYNOPSIS

In an animated sequence stylized by striking charcoal illustrations, an angel is cast out of heaven, left to spiral through the sky into an endless black pit. As darkness consumes the fallen angel, Abu — an imaam at a small New England mosque — is awoken by sunlight. Through this sunburst, a hand reaches toward him. The entire instance is revealed to be a vision when Abu jolts awake on the floor of his mosque, ripped from his dream by the call to prayer.

Abu returns home to his wife, Faduma, who has prepared breakfast at the crack of dawn. A soccer match plays on the TV, which holds Abu’s attention far more effectively than the best efforts of his loving wife. One player in particular, Khalid, has a romantic history with Abu from their time growing up together.

Later that day, Abu teaches an Islamic studies class, discreetly working on an original charcoal illustration of an angel on the side. Later that day, Abu teaches an Islamic studies class and discreetly works on a charcoal illustration of an angel. When he looks up from his art, he is stunned to find Khalid before him.

Khalid is visiting town between seasons and takes Abu for lunch to catch up. Khalid immediately noticess that Abu is not himself and encourages him to prioritize his happiness. There are clearly remnantunresolved feelings between the two of them, which ultimately scares Abu off and drives him deeper into his shell.

That night, Faduma confronts Abu about their intimacy issues. Unable to answer for his behavior, Abu distracts her with a passionate kiss, pulling the sheets over their heads. Under the covers, Faduma has been replaced by Khalid, who Abu imagines as he makes love to his wife. When Abu refuses to meet her gaze, Faduma pushes him off, shattering his fantasy.

The following day, Abu performs wudhu — a cleansing ritual done before prayer in Islam. Kneeling before God, Abu concludes prayer by looking to the right once and then to the left, where a being of golden light with no corporeal form mirrors his movements. Abu stumbles backwards in fear and when he blinks, the figure has reverted to a beam of light shining in front of him.

MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

This project explores the extent to which our deepest desires and external obligation can coexist. Having been raised in a devout Muslim community, where I would attend Islamic classes five days a week, I was keenly aware of the ways in which my queerness and artistic ambitions jutted up against tradition. Societal pressures forced me into a double life, unable to fully integrate the competing facets of my being.

That is, until now. Since leaving home to pursue a career in film, I’ve had to lean back on my faith more than ever, trusting in a divine order greater than myself when the road ahead has appeared uncertain. My relationship with God has shifted radically since I was a kid, recontextualized by a queer interpretation of scripture. But there is a world in which, like so many of us, I had caved to what I’d been told rather than coming to my own beliefs.

Even if I’d gone down a different path I honestly believe that the truth of who I was would still rise to the surface. The choices that we make on a daily basis can radically alter the trajectory of our future. When we deny our nature on account of shame, we are haunted by the parts of ourselves that we’ve buried. Now more than ever, with Western media’s abuse of LGBTQ+ rights as fuel for Islamophobic propaganda, I feel called to create nuanced, queer and trans Muslim narratives.

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Meet The Filmmakers

Gulet Isse

Director and Writer

Gulet Isse is a Somali American filmmaker and actor based in Brooklyn. Her work as a performer has earned her roles on-screen in productions such as LITTLE AMERICA (Apple TV , 2022) and CANDIS CAYNE’S SECRET GARDEN (Hulu, 2023), as well as developmental fellowships from The Sundance Institute, Center for Cultural Power, T ransgender Film Center, and Film Fatales. Her debut feature script —Khutbah — was named a semi-finalist for the 2022 WIF X Black List Feature Residency. In conjunction with her work in film, Isse founded BXD Collective—a medium-agnostic community platform through which she curates annual summer exhibitions and has raised over $25,000 to develop the work of 50+underrepresented artists to date
Carolyn Knapp

Producer
An innovative multimedia producer, Caro Knapp has a wealth of experience across narrative, commercial, music video, and animation for clients such as Adobe, Zayn Malik, IPSY, and Olivia Rodrigo. After graduating from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Caro founded Sworn Friend Studios in 2022 to tell bold and vulnerable stories that live at the crossroads of groundbreaking visuals, storytelling, and community experience. Through Sworn Friend, Caro and Giovanna consistently execute 50k-100k budgets for commercial and music industry packages, while prioritizing the rates and on-set experiences of their crew. Their work explores themes of love, empathy, and liberation, resonating strongly with audiences worldwide, particularly within the queer community of which they are a part.
Giovanna Trujillo

Producer
Giovanna Trujillo , a bilingual Queer Mexican-American filmmaker, producer, and photographer from Southern California, is known for her passion for telling uplifting stories that focus on the Latinx, LGBTQ+, women, and non-binary communities. Her work often explores themes like self-acceptance, personal autonomy, and the complexities of relationships, infused with a nostalgic touch. With an impressive background in producing music videos and coordinating major commercial campaigns, Giovanna has honed her ability to execute production at an expert level. In 2023, she directed and produced the award winning documentary short "SHRED," which is now available on PBS. The film delves into the mental health and societal struggles of queer Latinx roller skaters in Southern California.
Sade Ndya

Director of Photography
Sadé Ndya is a Caribbean-American cinematographer, fine artist, and community organizer whose work crafts bold, emotionally resonant imagery that transports audiences beyond reality, capturing the beauty, rhythm, and essence of the culture. Named an ASC Rising Star by American Cinematographer, Sadé continues to carve out a distinct voice within contemporary cinema. Her films include Soñadora (Tribeca premiere, now streaming on Amazon Prime), the NAACP-nominated My Brother & Me (ABFF premiere, streaming on American Airlines), and Them That’s Not (NewFest premiere, Gold Hugo winner at the Chicago International Film Festival). Represented by The Gersh Agency, Sadé’s work has been featured in Netflix’s Strong Black Lens, with collaborations spanning BET, Disney, NBC, Hillman Grad, and Hoorae, and lensing innovative commercial campaigns for leading brands like Nike, Google, Delta, and Ford. Her recent art installation "Re-Imagining Black __", curated by Tina Knowles Lawson, completed a month-long exhibition at the WACO Theater Center in Los Angeles. The two screen video installation reflects on the past history and evolving future of black women in cinema.