Hodid Media
Independent Film & Media Production
THE NAME
Hodid was the nickname of Halaleh, someone we love but lost too soon. She was a researcher deeply concerned with nature, climate, and the environment.
The name keeps her memory alive and carries forward the energy and strength she gave us.
Hodid Media Inc. is a Toronto-based film and media company developing and producing distinctive documentary and narrative films, with a focus on socially engaged stories and international collaboration.
The story of our company began many years ago in Tehran, under the name Shar, together with our colleague and collaborator Samira Marzban. Over the years, we produced a wide range of documentary, narrative, and industrial films, building a body of work and experience that eventually brought us to Toronto, where we decided to continue and expand our journey in filmmaking.
Along the way, we experienced a profound loss. We lost our beloved Helaleh, whose presence, kindness, and beauty left an enduring mark on our lives and our work. In her memory, we chose to continue this journey here in Toronto under her name and in her spirit.
Today, Hodid Media continues that path by developing and producing documentary and narrative films, working across borders with filmmakers and creative partners, and engaging with stories that explore social issues, human experiences, and the complexities of our changing world.
For us, filmmaking is not only a profession, but a way of connecting people, preserving stories, and giving space to voices and experiences that deserve to be seen and heard.
Shilan Saadi is a Kurdish filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, and photographer from Mahabad, Iran, currently based in Canada. She holds a B.A. in Cinema from Soore University in Tehran and has worked for many years across documentary and narrative filmmaking, film education, and international cinema.
Her work explores identity, memory, displacement, migration, women’s experiences, resilience, and social change, often drawing from personal and collective histories. Growing up in Mahabad and beginning her filmmaking career in Iran have deeply shaped her perspective and her commitment to telling stories rooted in Kurdish culture, history, and lived experience while creating connections with audiences beyond cultural and geographical borders.
She has participated in international film training and development programs, including the Greenhouse Documentary Program in Morocco, the Danish Film School in Copenhagen, and the CinéCollective Istanbul Masterclass at Institut français. In 2019, she was selected for Berlinale Talents and is a member of PEN International’s Writers in Exile Network. She has also worked as a film educator and mentor and has served as a jury member, jury chair, and selection committee member for international and Kurdish film festivals and her work and films have been presented in festivals, cultural programs, universities, and film institutions.
Based in Canada, She is the founder of Hodid Media Inc., an independent film and media company dedicated to developing and producing distinctive documentary and narrative projects. Through Hodid Media, she collaborates with filmmakers and creative partners in Canada and internationally, supporting independent stories from development and financing through production, distribution, and audience engagement.
She is also the creator and host of Kurdish Frame, a podcast dedicated to Kurdish cinema, filmmakers, and the voices and stories shaping Kurdish film culture.
Keyvan Fahimi is a Kurdish filmmaker, director, cinematographer, editor, and screenwriter, born in Mahabad, Iran, in 1979. He holds an M.A. in Theatre from Tarbiat Modares University and completed professional filmmaking and cinematography training through the Iranian Youth Cinema Society.
With extensive experience in documentary, television, and independent film, Keyvan has worked across a wide range of projects as a director, cinematographer, editor, screenwriter, and producer. His short fiction and documentary films have been screened at international film festivals and have received awards.
Alongside filmmaking, Keyvan has a strong background in theatre and playwriting. He has worked as an actor, playwright, and script reader, and has participated in numerous film, theatre, photography, and cultural events.
One of his notable works as a playwright is Sputnik: The Sound of Loneliness, which was selected as one of the outstanding plays in the playwriting competition of the 40th Fajr International Theatre Festival in 2022. The play was selected from hundreds of submissions and was included among the festival’s featured works.
His background across film, theatre, photography, and writing has shaped his approach to visual storytelling and character-driven narratives. Moving between different forms of artistic expression has allowed him to develop a distinctive perspective on filmmaking and storytelling.
Keyvan is also the host of Radio Shar, a podcast exploring Kurdish culture, art, artists, and creative expression.
