Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Languages
Timeline
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Sozan Mirawdaly

Sozan Mirawdaly

Toronto,ON

Summary

Award-winning journalist and storyteller turned documentary filmmaker.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Documentary Director

Mother Arcana Productions
01.2023 - Current
  • Executed two self-funded research trips to form relationships in the Peruvian Amazon and was invited into an Indigenous Shipibo community of traditional plant medicine healers in Atalaya, Peru.
  • Conducted on-camera interviews with several male, female, and healers in training (between the ages of 25-90 years old) on traditional Amazonian plant medicines, the impacts of climate change, and industry on the Amazon/their communities and the future of these medicines and communities.
  • Have been invited back to these communities with a film crew and currently assembling a team (have a director of photography and currently interviewing Canadian documentary producers to co-produce).
  • Met informally with a representative from CBC during Hot Docs Film Festival, 2023 on this project and invited to send a formal pitch.
  • Taking a course on engaging with Indigenous Communities in December 2023.

Writer - 10/10/10 Project

10/10/10 Project /Toronto Fringe Festival
05.2015 - 08.2015
  • Selected as one of 10 paid writers to submit content inspired by the work of 10 musical composers to inform a dance performance bringing it all together through 10 choreographed pieces in a game of artist-broken telephone in which none of the contributors met for the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Published Poet Contributor

Regarding Arts And Letters (REAL) Texana Magazine
09.2013 - 09.2013
  • Paid poet contributor for a poem called 'Hamreen' published by Regarding Arts and Letters (REAL) Texana Magazine out of Stephen F. Austen State University.

Journalist/Writer

Various - Maclean's, The Ottawa Citizen, CBC/other
04.2005 - 06.2013
  • Researched, interviewed and wrote feature-length stories on anything from survivors of the Anfal Genocide/those murdered by Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, to Saudi deradicalization camp for terrorists that used ping pong and finger paint as methods, to social justice and climate change issues, politics, renewable energy and travel for several web and print publications.
  • My feature about the only woman to defeat social stigma by admitting that she was raped in a Baathist Regime concentration camp during Saddam Hussein's trial was nominated for a 2013 National Magazine Award.
  • Winner of the KRG Business Award for Best Business feature in Listed Magazine for a story about fracking.
  • Maintained up-to-date knowledge of current events and cultivated relationships worldwide for storytelling opportunities.

Commissioned Photographer Contributor

Canadian Museum For Human Rights
03.2013 - 03.2013
  • Paid photographer (copywrite license given) for a photograph taken of children's shoes at a mass grave in Iraq for a permanent exhibit on the Anfal Genocide. Current copywrite extends until 2033.

Education

Bachelor of Journalism -

University of King's College
Halifax, NS

Ontario Arts Grant Recipient (2010 & 2011)

Narrative Nonfiction

Bread Loaf Writers' Conference
Middlebury, Vermont
08.2011

Creative Writing

Paris American Academy
Paris, France
07.2011

Languages

English
Native or Bilingual
Romanian
Native or Bilingual
French
Limited Working
Kurdish
Elementary

Timeline

Documentary Director

Mother Arcana Productions
01.2023 - Current

Writer - 10/10/10 Project

10/10/10 Project /Toronto Fringe Festival
05.2015 - 08.2015

Published Poet Contributor

Regarding Arts And Letters (REAL) Texana Magazine
09.2013 - 09.2013

Commissioned Photographer Contributor

Canadian Museum For Human Rights
03.2013 - 03.2013

Journalist/Writer

Various - Maclean's, The Ottawa Citizen, CBC/other
04.2005 - 06.2013

Bachelor of Journalism -

University of King's College

Ontario Arts Grant Recipient (2010 & 2011)

Narrative Nonfiction

Bread Loaf Writers' Conference

Creative Writing

Paris American Academy

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Sozan Mirawdaly