the creators
Raya Hamdan - Director, Writer & Creative Producer
Raya Hamdan embarked on her career in the film industry back in 2005, working alongside some of the industry's most esteemed professionals on renowned sets, including the Oscar-winning film "The Hurt Locker." In 2008, Raya further honed her skills by graduating from the prestigious New York Film Academy located in Manhattan. She had the opportunity to collaborate with distinguished directors like Denis Villeneuve on projects such as "Incendies," where she played a pivotal role in developing Arabic scenes.
In 2010, Raya made a significant stride in her journey by establishing Stonethrow Studios, a dynamic and innovative content creation and production hub. Through this venture, she undertook a multitude of productions and collaborated with esteemed broadcasters such as National Geographic, MBC and BBC. Raya's creative prowess and meticulous attention to detail allowed her to deliver exceptional content and solidify her reputation as a respected professional in the industry.
In 2021, Raya ventured into the realm of independent artistry, assuming the roles of Director and Creative Producer for her debut feature film, "Madaniya / Civilian." This documentary animation feature is poised to commence production in 2023 and promises to showcase Raya's exceptional talent and vision. Presently, Raya is the co-founder of Diaspora Filmworks, a creative content studio that specialises in film and TV productions. At her new company Raya serves as a Creative Producer, Writer and Director.
With her wealth of experience, artistic acumen, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Raya Hamdan continues to shape the landscape of the film industry through her unique contributions and creative endeavours that take her around the globe.
Mazin Gamar - Writer & Executive Producer
Mazin Gamar is a Sudanese-Canadian writer who has been producing works of creative writing since early childhood. Interested in both fiction and journalism, at the young age of 12 he was hired as a Columnist and then Editor for the first English-language magazine to gain wide circulation in Egypt.
He published several articles in The Link newspaper focused on social causes in Canada and went on to work in the global marketing and communications fields for companies such as adidas, L’Oreal, Aldo and Unilever. As a media executive for 15 years, he led the ideation and production of global campaigns for major brands and founded a successful consulting business with clients such as the NBA. He brings his global media production and storytelling experience to Diaspora Filmworks as an Executive Producer and Writer.
After growing up in Cairo and Jeddah, Mazin gained significant cultural understanding of diverse cultures from his time living in Montreal, Toronto, Amsterdam, Cairo and Dubai.
In 2022 Mazin was awarded a grant by the Canada Council for the Arts for the development and production of his first feature film; a documentary animation about the role of artists in the Sudanese revolution. His short script Soweto placed highly in the final rounds of competitions like ScreenCraft and Screenwriters Network and production was halted during the pandemic in 2020. He is currently developing original TV and feature film concepts.