MARKHOR

MENTORSHIP

ABOUT

Markhor Mentorships is an annual initiative founded and funded by producer Shehrezade Mian to support emerging MI+MESA (Muslim, Immigrant, Middle Eastern and South Asian) filmmakers.

Each year, one filmmaker is selected for a tailored, one-on-one mentorship combining creative guidance with practical producing strategies to support their career in Canada's film industry.

 

Who It’s For

The mentorship is primarily intended for Muslim and immigrant filmmakers from South Asia and the Middle East. While priority is given to these communities, all filmmakers of Middle Eastern or South Asian heritage are welcome to apply.

Eligibility:

  • Of Middle Eastern or South Asian heritage (MESA communities)

  • Based in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

  • Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or valid visa holder

  • Demonstrated commitment to filmmaking through education, relevant work experience, a body of work, or pursuit of a career in producing or directing

 

WHY IT EXISTS

Markhor Mentorships grew out of founder Shehrezade Mian’s own challenges entering the Canadian film industry as a Muslim immigrant, and her desire to make that path easier for the next generation of MI+MESA filmmakers.

The initiative aims to:

  • Support filmmakers in developing their own projects and creative practices

  • Provide hands-on guidance in producing, directing, financing, and project development

  • Help MI+MESA filmmakers build lasting relationships and opportunities within Canada's film industry

How To Apply

Applications for the 2027 mentorship year will open in December 2026.

Applications can only be submitted once the portal is live. For updates on the application process, please check back in late November 2026 or follow @markhor.pictures on Instagram for announcements.

MEET PAST MENTEE’S

Meet the mentees from previous editions of the Markhor Mentorship.

  • Momo Daud is a Toronto-based Canadian film producer and alumnus of the 2025 CFC Producers’ Lab. His debut feature, His Father’s Son (2024), was funded by Telefilm Canada, won Best Director and the Audience Choice Award at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, and was distributed by Mongrel Media. He is currently producing his second narrative feature, EXP, and the Lebanese-Canadian documentary Charmland.


    Nawal Salim is a Canadian filmmaker, actress, and arts producer. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s MFA in Documentary Media, she has programmed cultural events with Ontario Culture Days and the Silk Road Institute, and her creative work explores Muslim representation in film and performance.

  • Toronto Arts Foundation – Mentor in Residence x Core Program
    Shehrezade worked with eight emerging artists from South Asian, Muslim, and Middle Eastern communities through the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Mentor in Residence x Core Program, providing career guidance, funding strategies, and creative development support.

  • The mentorship program was on pause this year.

  • Shaista Roshan– Producer
    Shaista Roshan is an Indo-Arab filmmaker and producer. A CFC Producers’ Lab alumna and participant in TIFF’s Big Pitch and the Creators of Color Incubator (2024), her recent producing credits include Karupy (Toronto International Film Festival 2025). She has also worked on major international series including Tokyo Vice (HBO Max), The Greatest(Amazon), and Brilliant Minds (NBC).

  • Maytham Jabbara – Producer
    Maytham Jbara is an Iraqi-Canadian writer and producer based in Toronto. A graduate of the University of Baghdad’s Cinema and Television program, his credits include Hanging Gardens (Venice Film Festival 2022, Special Mention; Seattle International Film Festival 2023, New Directors Competition Winner) and award-supported films backed by Telefilm Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Red Sea Film Festival.