From Calgary to Global Stage: South Asian Filmmaker Kiana Rawji Makes Waves Worldwide

The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), an esteemed event on the global film circuit, is set to kick off this September, spotlighting both local and international talent. Among the festival's notable accolades is the Devon Bolt Memorial Award for Best Alberta Short, which recognizes outstanding short films. A noteworthy winner from the 2021 CIFF was Kiana Rawji, a young, talented South Asian filmmaker from Calgary. Rawji was a second-year undergraduate student at Harvard University when she received this prestigious award for her documentary, LONG DISTANCE.

LONG DISTANCE is a poignant exploration of the migrant worker crisis in Canada, focusing on the challenges faced by a Filipino couple during the COVID-19 outbreak at Alberta's Cargill meat plant in 2020. The film weaves political commentary with the personal struggles of Derek, a former meat plant worker who endured a severe COVID-induced stroke, and his wife, Norie, who showed immense strength in supporting her family. Through their "long distance" relationship-with Derek isolated in a hospital far from home-the film highlights both their personal trials and the broader systemic issues facing Canada's multicultural promises. The 2021 CIFF Jury described the film as offering "a compelling human perspective on the pandemic," balancing hardship with hope and critique of the system that puts migrant workers in precarious positions in the first place.

Kiana Rawji's success at CIFF marked the beginning of a promising career of a rising South Asian star. Over the past three years, Rawji has expanded her reach from Calgary to the global stage, showcasing her films across Canada, the United States, and East Africa. Her work, which often tackles urgent social issues, has captivated audiences in cities from Toronto to Los Angeles and Zanzibar.

Growing up in Alberta as a first-generation Canadian, Rawji, the daughter of Ismaili Muslim immigrants with roots in Gujarat, India and East Africa, never anticipated a career in filmmaking. She graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University, majoring in Art, Film, and Visual Studies and History & Literature. It was Rawji's first film class, which she took early on in college that set her on the path to becoming a filmmaker. The class, called Social Justice and the Documentary Film, was taught by esteemed South Asian filmmaker and professor, Vivek Bald, known for his recent film, IN SEARCH OF BENGALI HARLEM.

Following her 2021 CIFF win, Rawji ventured into fiction filmmaking with her film JE SUIS in 2022. This film, which premiered at the 2022 International South Asian Film Festival in Canada, explores the experience of a Muslim college student navigating Islamophobic classroom discussions. In 2023, Rawji completed two significant projects set in Kenya, her parents' birthplace. Her documentary MAMA OF MANYATTA portrays a remarkable woman transforming lives in a Kisumu slum amidst an HIV crisis. It screened at the 2023 Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Essence Film Festival in New Orleans, and received a Special Jury Mention at the Zanzibar International Film Festival in Tanzania.

Additionally, Rawji's fictional film INSIDE JOB is set in 1970s Nairobi, revolving around an Indian woman and her African domestic workers. This period piece, made on a modest budget and shot in under four days, premiered at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival and was later showcased alongside MAMA OF MANYATTA in Nairobi and Toronto. At a screening of Rawji's films at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Dr. Zainub Verjee offered opening remarks and praised Rawji's work for its poetic and feminist approach, while Narendra Pachkhédé highlighted its insightful depiction of power dynamics during a post-screening Q&A with Rawji, herself.

What sets Rawji's work apart is her commitment to portraying not only hardship but also resilience. Her films address complex themes like diaspora, displacement, and social justice, aiming to foster critical dialogue and drive meaningful change.

Recently, Rawji has made significant strides in New York City, joining Ark Media, a prominent documentary production company. There, she has been a part of key producing teams creating content for major platforms like Netflix and PBS. She is also gearing up for larger independent fiction projects of her own. Rawji's journey from CIFF to the international film scene underscores her exceptional talent and commitment to impactful storytelling.

Kiana Rawji's story is one of remarkable achievement and representation. As she continues to make waves in the film industry, her work reflects the rich tapestry of South Asian experiences and voices. Her rise as a filmmaker exemplifies the power of storytelling and the impact of diverse voices in cinema, particularly the significance of South Asian filmmakers in shaping the global cinematic landscape.

You can find more about Kiana and some of her work at www.kianarawji.com and @kianarawjifilms on Instagram. Additionally, you can watch her TEDx Talks on Islam and The Cosmopolitan Ethic, which have garnered over 150,000 views worldwide, here and here.