WestWind Pictures

07/02/2025

Exciting days are on the horizon! We are putting the finishing touches on our film called "Cast Aside the Clouds" and hope you'll watch for updates here as we move towards distribution and launch! Here's a brief synopsis: In the shadows of persecution inmodern-day Iran, a determined young Bahá’í woman and a secular Muslim doctor fall in love against all odds—risking imprisonment, betrayal, andheartbreak as they fight to define the truth in a society that forbids it.

06/20/2024

If you are in or around Toronto on Tuesday, June 25th at 7 pm, we would like to invite you to a special event at the University Club of Toronto. Our friend and partner, Payam Zamani, will be launching his new book "Crossing the Desert." Plus, Ralph Benmergui will host a special Q&A with Payam. We hope you will join us! Register below to reserve your spot!

Join Payam and special guests, with journalist Ralph Benmergui, for book reading, signing, Q&A, and more.

06/20/2024

We have officially titled our upcoming film "Cast Aside the Clouds," inspired by a beautiful stanza from a poem by Tahirih...

"Cast aside the clouds to show them
the sun in its full splendor
by removing the veils
from the beauty of your face..." Tahirih.

12/14/2023

We are so excited to announce the production of a romantic feature film titled “Utab.” A moving love story set against the backdrop of modern-day Tehran, “Utab” features two young people whose love takes them on a journey to seek the truth for themselves in the face of prejudices that are determined to keep them apart.

Featuring a stellar, all-Iranian, English-speaking cast, Utab is scheduled to begin filming this spring. Stay tuned for exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses, and gear up for auditions and casting announcements!

11/21/2023

In Search of a Better World with Payam Akhavan is now available here with Persian subtitles:

«در جستجوی جهانی بهتر» مستندی است درباره‌ی زندگی و تجربه‌های پیام اخوان، یکی از چهره‌های نامدارِ دنیا در زمینه‌ی حقوق بین‌الملل. او استاد دانشگاه و از اعضای ...

10/30/2023

Our film, "Nineteen", is scheduled to be screened at the "One Planet Summit" in Monterey next week! The documentary is inspired by the book "Nineteen" written by Adam Robarts, which explores the lessons he learned through the passing of his son, Haydn. The film is partly a personal memoir, but it also touches on universal lessons, insights from religion and science, and perspectives from Haydn and his parents. Nineteen.book

02/08/2023

A new season of The Spark with Ralph Benmergui is now airing on YesTV! Hope you'll tune in and discover a special spark in every guest.

06/20/2022

In celebration of , we wanted to extend a huge thanks to everyone who came out on Friday to attend the screening and discussion for 'In Search Of A Better World', particularly to who made sure the event went off without a hitch. It was truly an inspiring experience! For those who couldn't make it, the film and panel discussion are now available to stream via Gem and Massey College. Watch now:
🎥 In Search Of A Better World film: https://gem.cbc.ca/media/in-search-of-a-better-world/s01
🎙️ In Search Of A Better World panel discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMbOBaqWefk

The remarkable story of Payam Akhavan, one of the world’s leading human rights lawyers and his fight for justice for the Rohingya.

06/16/2022

We're excited to announce that our amazing panel for In Search Of A Better World will officially be livestreamed. Join us on June 17th at 8:25pm EST to hear from human rights lawyer and the subject of the documentary , physician and human rights/health activist , Director of Human Rights Watch Canada , Senior Fellow (Reconciliation), First People's Group , and youth social justice advocate ! Moderated by Executive Director of Journalists for Human Rights and featuring a special message from Canadian Ambassador to the UN and former Ontario premier ! Watch it here: [LINK]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMbOBaqWefk

The 'In Search Of A Better World' panel is growing! 🎉 We are so pleased to add youth social justice activist Marzieh Darling-Donnelly to our panel, along with a message from Canadian Ambassador to the UN, .

Join us on June 17 for a screening of the film, followed by a discussion with our incredible panelists. Register now for your free ticket to the event: https://www.masseycollege.ca/events/film-screening-cbc-doc-in-search-of-a-better-world-on-payam-akhavan/

06/13/2022

The 'In Search Of A Better World' panel is growing! 🎉 We are so pleased to add youth social justice activist Marzieh Darling-Donnelly to our panel, along with a message from Canadian Ambassador to the UN, .

Join us on June 17 for a screening of the film, followed by a discussion with our incredible panelists. Register now for your free ticket to the event: https://www.masseycollege.ca/events/film-screening-cbc-doc-in-search-of-a-better-world-on-payam-akhavan/

06/07/2022

Announcing our panelists for the June 17th screening and Q&A of 'In Search Of A Better World'! Featuring major forces in human rights including , , , and , moderated by . Book your free tickets today: https://www.masseycollege.ca/events/film-screening-cbc-doc-in-search-of-a-better-world-on-payam-akhavan/

With Massey College
Co-sponsored by International Human Rights Program, University of Toronto Faculty of Law Human Rights Watch Canada The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights Queen's Faculty of Law Western Law McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism and the