Schitt’s Creek alum Dan Levy has signed on to executive produce Canadian-Afghan director and editor Alexander Farah’s short film drama One Day This Kid.
Farah wrote and directed the 17-minute film that was shot in Canada and stars Massey Ahmar, Mahan Mohammadinasab and Elyas Rahimi. The English- and Dari/Farsi-language film, produced by Joaquin Cardoner, centers on Hamed, a first-generation Afghan Canadian man taking steps to establish his own identity amid fear, desire and shame while living in his father’s shadow.
“I’m in awe of how much emotional depth Alexander was able to pour into this film considering the confines of its run time. He tells this story with such meticulous care; you can’t help but feel instantly steeped in his world. Such an incredible achievement and I’m honored to join as an executive producer,” Levy said in a statement.
Levy is best known for co-creating the Emmy-winning Canadian comedy Schitt’s Creek with his father Eugene Levy. He also wrote, directed and co-starred in his first feature, Good Grief, for Netflix.
One Day This Kid is inspired by American artist David Wojnarowicz’s 1990 artwork Untitled (One Day This Kid…), which portrays a young gay man growing up in society that rejects him at all costs.
Writer-director Farah added in his own statement: “Given how rarely queer voices have been recognized in the short film race, it really means a lot to join forces with a filmmaking powerhouse like Dan. He has literally carved his own path to the top echelon of the industry and the fact that he’s championing our film is profoundly encouraging.”
After debuting at the Toronto Film Festival, One Day This Kid screened at AFI Fest, Slamdance and Torino and earned an Oscar-qualifying Grand Jury Prize for best narrative short film at SXSW and the prestigious Iris Prize in the UK. Farah’s other award-winning shorts include Meet You At The Light, Motherland and Lay Me By The Light.
One Day This Kid currently streams on The Criterion Channel and Crave in Canada.
