It’s Showtime at Springfield College: Ramadan America screened on

Tue, 04/29/2025 - 12:00

By: Emma Bynes (Class of 2028) and Ethan Banfield (Class of 2026)

Introduction

Asad Butt is a dedicated filmmaker and producer whose love for storytelling began in college, where he was the editor in chief of the school newspaper. This role ignited his passion for telling stories, especially those that highlight the American Muslim community. A few years ago, he forayed into films and has been using the medium to amplify his message. His focus is on bringing diverse voices to the screen and showing the rich experiences of his community to a global American audience.

Besides films, Asad sees podcasts as a powerful part of today's media because they are easy for anyone to create. This means anyone can tell their story and reach people directly, which wasn't always possible before. He enjoys how personal podcasts are, as listeners often use headphones, making it feel like the storyteller is speaking directly to them. Through his work in both film and podcasting, Asad aims to connect with people and inspire them, making a positive impact on his community and beyond.

Filmmaker Asad Butt and his film Ramadan America toured Springfield College on April 21st 2025.

What started your passion for producing films?

I think I’ve always been interested in producing ever since college. I was the editor in chief of the paper where I went to school, and that got me really interested in storytelling. I’ve always been just interested in showcasing stories from the American Muslim community, and moved into producing movies just a couple of years ago, when I figured out that I had that skill set to do that in this format.

Why do you think podcasts are an important part of media?

It’s such an easy format for anybody to pick up. In that sense, anybody can be a storyteller, find an audience, and directly communicate with people in a way that has really never been available. The other interesting part about podcasting is that most listeners wear headphones, so you literally have someone in your head.

How are the celebrations of Ramadan and Eid Mubarak important to you?

It’s a time for family. It’s a time for getting together and a time for community. For me in particular, it’s a time of reflection and thinking about ways of giving back.

Looking back, what do you feel most proud of?

I think I’m most proud of the fact that we put over 100 American Muslims to work on this. For a lot of them, they were first time writers. Some of the directors, this was the first time they directed someone else’s thing, as opposed to their own [writing]. And for a lot of the actors, this was the biggest kind of project that they’d taken part in. Since then, I’ve seen a bunch of collaborations between people involved in our production, and I’m really happy to see them working together.

What was the biggest challenge in producing Ramadan America?

This is the first time that I’ve done anything like this. So for me, it was a lot like learning how to do things while flying the plane. There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen and opinions on this project, so having to sort through all the feedback was difficult.

Conclusion

Springfield College hosted Butt thanks to combined efforts from the Springfield College Department of Literature, Writing, and Journalism; Department of Business Management; Honors Program; Division of Campus Life and Inclusion; Doggett International Center; and the International Student Organization. The event showcased the film, Ramadan America, and had a celebration with authentic Eid food featured in the film. Students enjoyed the food, got a chance to speak to Asad Butt and had a great time!