filmmaker incubator

Welcome to the Filmmaking Incubator for Muslim Filmmakers in Alberta! This unique program aims to connect aspiring Muslim filmmakers in Alberta with top industry experts.
Through a series of sessions and workshops, participants will have the opportunity to hone their skills in directing, scriptwriting, acting, lighting, cinematography, sound design, and editing. Our experts will provide hands-on guidance, tips, and insights to help you take your filmmaking to the next level.
We are looking for individuals who have a strong foundation in filmmaking and are looking to advance their careers and succeed in this competitive field. So, if you’re ready to take your skills to the next level and make a real impact in the world of filmmaking, join us for this exciting opportunity!


2023 incubator submissionS are now closed

Thank you to all of the filmmakers who have applied to our Filmmaking Incubator!


MEET THE MENTors

  • Hamza Haq (born October 27, 1990) is a Canadian actor, best known for his leading role in the television series Transplant. Haq started his career with roles on various television series, before taking on roles in feature films. As an actor, his work has included the television series Quantico and limited series The Indian Detective.

  • Sahar Jahani is a first generation Iranian-American writer/director raised in Los Angeles. Sahar worked in scripted development at YouTube Originals before transitioning to the writers room on the Emmy nominated Hulu series, RAMY, where she wrote her first episode of television and won a Peabody for her work. Since then, Sahar has written on several shows including 13 REASONS WHY, THE BOLD TYPE, ECHOES, and was most recently a consulting producer on Amy Schumer's LIFE AND BETH (S2 on Hulu). On the film side, Sahar has adapted AYESHA AT LAST for Pascal Pictures and is currently writing a YOU’VE GOT MAIL inspired Rom-com titled, HANA KHAN CARRIES ON for Amazon Studios and Executive Producer Mindy Kaling. Sahar has previously developed her own series of shows at HBO Max and Netflix. When she isn't writing for the screen, she's working on her debut YA novel set to be published in Spring 2025.

  • Sami Khan is a Canadian filmmaker. He is most noted as co-director with Smriti Mundhra of the film St. Louis Superman, which was an Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020.

 
  • Faiz Zaidi has worked on incredible pieces of work like Cake, Azmaish and more!

  • Abubakar Khan is a producer based in Los Angeles by way of Vancouver, Canada. He recently completed production management on a feature, "Mustache" (Directed by Imran J. Khan), which won the audience award at SXSW 2023. He was the head of Business Affairs for the feature "Queen of Bones" (Directed by Robert Budreau/Produced by Appian Way). He has also produced twelve short films. In addition, he is the former vice-chair of the Canadian Media Producers Association and is a recent graduate of the Canadian Film Centre Norman Jewison Producers' Lab and a resident of the Canadian Academy Executive Residency Program. He holds a Bachelors of Commerce degree in Business Management from Royal Roads University and is PMP certified.

  • Issa Shah is a visual storyteller whose style services the story and its emotions. He is a Pakistani-Guyanese cinematographer and camera operator for the last 10 years.

    His most recent feature film project ‘Queen Tut’ is set to release on Crave streaming service in fall 2023. Issa chose this project for its intimate nature, as a young Egyptian boy moves to Canada where he finds solace and a home with a group of drag queens.

    Telling stories like this, Issa allow the shared human experience to triumph our connection to one another.

    Issa’s skills were honed during his early years of his career while working at SubPac and Toronto International Film Festival. At both companies, Issa produced, shot and edited in-house content with prolific names in the music and film industry.

    As Issa’s career has grown he has worked with notable clients such as; HBO, CBC, OutTV, Lululemon, Warner Music, TikTok, OVO and XO.

  • Justin Mashouf is an Emmy award winning Editor and Director whose career spans over 10 countries and includes feature films, commercials, tv specials and documentaries. This broad skillset makes him incredibly reliable in his field and allows him to find beautiful solutions to any problem.

 

MEET THE COHORT

  • AJ Akhtar is a film director based in Calgary, Alberta. He takes a holistic approach to storytelling, often also photographing, editing, and creating music for his films. His works follow the experience of diaspora Muslims closely. In his film HAFIZ, he explored the difficulties of faith after rejection, and in CHARSI, he explored the pressures on youth during an economic recession.

  • Alex Eskandarkhah is an Afro-Iranian writer, director, producer and actor, born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. He is a co-creator of The Gifted Gab, a media brand and talk show entering individuals and experts across various expertise. He is also a co-founder of the Collective for Black Iranians, a creative initiative intersecting Black and African histories and experiences. Alex has recently completed his debut documentary film, “Coaching While Black” premiering on Telus Optik TV this summer.

  • Wasif Haseeb is an Indian-Canadian Muslim filmmaker based in Calgary, AB. He first began his filmmaking journey at the age of 10, using his family's webcam to shoot a feature-length film. Since then, his work has transitioned into short-form narrative fiction and documentary, often dealing with cross-culture identity, social expectations, and mental well-being. His goal is to tell stories that reflect the diverse community he was raised in. Most recently, his work has been screened at FascinAsian Film Festival, Mosquers Film Festival, and CBC.


have questions about the program?

Please contact ijlal@themosquers.com