Who Loves the Sun
The mission of the Centre d'art et essai de la Cinémathèque québécoise (CAECQ) is to primary program Quebec-made documentaries and independent fiction, as well as international documentaries, animated and foreign films, while encouraging opportunities for meetings between the public and the artists. Its programming is presented in conjunction with the Cinémathèque québécoise’s under the label New releases.
The screenings will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Arshia Shakiba and producer Zaynê Akyol
The film is in the running for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film
Winner of the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film, 2024 Venice International Film Festival
Winner of the Best Documentary Short Film Award, REGARD 2025
Set in war-torn northern Syria, Who Loves the Sun delves into the world of makeshift oil refineries and the stark realities of life within this post-apocalyptic landscape. Mahmood is a prominent figure in these operations, navigating harsh working conditions and complex local dynamics.
Arshia Shakiba
Arshia Shakiba graduated from the Toronto Film School in Digital Film Production. He started his career creating music videos for Iranian underground rock bands before transitioning to documentaries. He directed and filmed the short documentaries The Guests (2018) and Who Loves the Sun (2024). Arshia is currently working on his first feature-length documentary, Sleepless, with the National Film Board of Canada. For ROJEK (2022), Roger Deakins awarded him and Nicolas Canniccioni the Best Cinematography Award at Mirage Film Festival in Norway.
Photo: Zaynê Akyol
