Muslim Filmmaker, Producer & Screenwriter; Known for "These Birds Walk" & "Mogul Mowgli"; TED Talk Fellow

New York, NY, USA
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Bassam Tariq Biography

Bassam Tariq is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his work in documentary and narrative filmmaking. With a background in advertising and copywriting at agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi and BBDO NY, Tariq transitioned to storytelling focused on exploring the diversity and complexity of Muslim life and experience. He co-launched the blogging project "30 Mosques in 30 Days" with comedian Aman Ali, documenting the experience of breaking Ramadan fasts at different mosques across New York City and 30 states, offering a multifaceted perspective on American Muslim communities.

Tariq's documentary debut, "These Birds Walk," co-directed with Omar Mullick, follows runaway street children under the care of Pakistan's Edhi Foundation in Karachi. The film premiered at South by Southwest and was recognized by The New Yorker as one of the 50 best foreign films of the 21st century. Tariq and Mullick were named to Filmmaker Magazine's "25 New Faces of Independent Film" list and received an Art of Nonfiction fellowship from the Sundance Institute. His short documentary, "Ghosts of Sugar Land," examines Muslim American identity in a Houston suburb and won the Short Film Jury Prize at Sundance. Distributed by Netflix, the film further established Tariq's reputation for addressing complex social issues in film.

Tariq expanded into narrative filmmaking with "Mogul Mowgli," co-written with and starring Riz Ahmed. The film centers on Zed, a British-Pakistani rapper confronting an autoimmune disease, and explores themes of identity, trauma, and cultural assimilation. "Mogul Mowgli" premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize, and received a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film of the Year. The film has been noted for its exploration of identity and has received critical acclaim.

A TED Fellow, Tariq delivered a TED Talk titled "The beauty and diversity of Muslim life," connecting his work in filmmaking and his role as co-founder of the New York halal butcher shop Honest Chops as part of a broader response to the oversimplification of Muslim identity in America. Tariq was selected to direct Marvel Studios' "Blade" reboot starring Mahershala Ali, a project that did not proceed under his direction. He later reunited with Ali for the feature film "Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother," an action film for Amazon MGM Studios' Orion Pictures, featuring a cast that includes John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tramell Tillman. Tariq's filmography spans documentary, narrative drama, and studio filmmaking, reflecting his ongoing engagement with cultural identity, representation, and the Muslim American experience.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 05/08/2026.

Bassam Tariq Videos

Riz Ahmed and Bassam Tariq on MOGUL MOWGLI

Riz Ahmed and Bassam Tariq on MOGUL MOWGLI

The writers of Bassam Tariq's visceral directorial debut Mogul Mowgli talk about what it means to be British and what brown cinema looks like.

Bassam Tariq on directing MOGUL MOWGLI

Bassam Tariq on directing MOGUL MOWGLI

MovieMaker's Micah Khan talks to Bassam Tariq about directing Mogul Mowgli.

Learning not to forget | Bassam Tariq | TEDxKish

Learning not to forget | Bassam Tariq | TEDxKish

The editing room floor is filled with powerful scenes that never make the final film. What does that mean? Do we do the same with our own lives?...

  • How do I book Bassam Tariq to speak at my event?

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  • What topics does Bassam Tariq speak about?

    Bassam Tariq is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Culture, Faith & Religion, Faith & Religion, Muslim, Muslim, TED, Television & Film
  • Where does Bassam Tariq travel from?

    Bassam Tariq generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Bassam Tariq is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Bassam Tariq for your event is available upon request. Bassam Tariq generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Mahershala Ali, John Paget, Yoruba Richen, Franklin Leonard and Tiffany Shlain. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Bassam Tariq for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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