Sam & Ati

After departing Iran for Canada, Atefeh Khademolreza has dedicated herself to writing screenplays alongside her partner Samuel Kiehoon Lee. The two met while studying at York University's MFA program.

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Atefeh Khademolreza

Writer Director

Atefeh Khademolreza is an Iranian-Canadian award-winning writer, director, and animator. Mentored by the late Abbas Kiarostami, she has over 15 years of international filmmaking experience. Her films have screened at esteemed festivals worldwide, including her latest short animated documentary, METEOR, which premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.

In 2021 and 2022, Atefeh was the Filmmaker-in-Residence at TIFF's Micki Moore Residency and was selected for the 2023 Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Pitch Program. She is an alumna of the Berlinale Talent Campus (2006), Asian Film Academy (2008), Serbia Interaction Film Camp (2006, 2016), and Reelworld E20 (2019).

Atefeh’s storytelling focuses on themes of women, immigration, and identity, exploring cultural and social disorientation. She is a founding member of the Association of Iranian Film and Theatre Artists Abroad (AIFTAA) and a member of both the Writers Guild of Canada and the Iranian Short Film Association (ISFA).

Women Life Freedom!

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Samuel Kiehoon Lee

Writer Director

Samuel Kiehoon Lee is a Toronto-based writer/director whose diverse body of work explores trauma, language, culture, and identity. Born to parents who fled North Korea during the Korean Conflict, Samuel's films reflect his deep understanding of fractured histories and personal struggles. His acclaimed works include the feature film "GYOPO" and impactful shorts like "And the Sun" and "How to Make Kimchi." His current projects include the fantasy drama "Eclipse" and the psychological thriller "Buzzer". Alongside his enduring love for storytelling, Lee enjoys exploring his passion for stand-up comedy and maintains a commitment to the ketogenic diet.