Photo credit : Maureen Rouge
Aziz Zoromba
Director | Screenwriter
Aziz Zoromba is an Egyptian-Canadian writer, director and producer. Growing up between two distinct countries and cultures, Aziz’s films primarily focuses on the themes of ethno-cultural identity, assimilation and multigenerational trauma through diverse cinematic genres.
He is a graduate of Montreal’s Mel Hoppenheim school of cinema and an alumni of the 2019 Sundance Ignite fellowship. FARAWAY (2020), his debut documentary short, has screened at over 30 film festivals around the world and has been selected as Vimeo’s Staff Pick’s Best of the Year (2022).
His latest live action short, SIMO (2022), won the Best Canadian Film Award at TIFF, had its international premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in addition to its European premiere at the 73rd Berlinale. Furthermore, SIMO was the recipient of the prestigious Denis Villeneuve’s Coup de Coeur award at the 19th “Prends Ça Court Gala” and the winner of the 2023 Canadian Screen Award for the best live action short.
He is currently developing his first feature film in addition to a short animated-documentary.
*Deadline article :
FILMOGRAPHY
SIMO
2022
Short film
Director | Screenwriter
Produced by Rosalie Chicoine-Perreault | Distribution H264, SCARA—B Films
#ForYourConsideration for Best Live Action Short Film
50+ Festivals | 25+ Awards
Canadian Screen Awards, 2023 | Winner Best Live Action Short — OSCAR® QUALIFYING AWARD
Toronto International Film Festival, 2022 | Best Canadian Short — OSCAR® QUALIFYING AWARD
Young Directors Awards — Winner Gold Screen Short Film 15 min plus, Cannes (2023)
Gala Prends Ça Court! Montréal, Québec | 8 Awards including Denis Villeneuve’s Favorite Short Award
Sundance Film Festival, 2023 | World Premiere - Vimeo - International Fiction Award Winner (unofficial award)
73rd Berlinale, Generation 14plus, 2023 | GERMANY — European Premiere
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (FNC), October 2022 (Montréal) *AUDIENCE AWARD
South Western International Film Festival, November 2022 * AUDIENCE AWARD
Canada’s TOP TEN (TIFF), January 2023
Festival REGARD, March 2023 (Saguenay, Québec) *SPECIAL MENTION BEST YOUTH COMPETITION
Festival de Cinéma Vues d’Afrique, April 2023 (Montréal, QC) *REGARD D’ICI AWARD
Zawya Shorts, May 2023 (Cairo, Egypt) *AUDIENCE AWARD *BEST FILM AWARD
Toronto Arab Film Festival, June 2023 (Canada) *QAYQUB JURY PRIZE WINNER *HONORABLE MENTION - YAMAMA AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
Festival du film de Knowlton, Septembre 2023 (Québec) *PREMIER PRIX DU JURY
Le Cri du Court, Octobre 2023 (France) *Prix scolaire lycée et mission locale
Durham Region International Film Festival, Octobre 2023 (Canada) *BEST CANADIAN SHORT AWARD
International Short Film Festival of Cyprus, Octobre 2023 (Chypre) *HONORARY MENTION
Palm Springs ShortFest, June 2023 (California, USA) - in Competition for Young Cineastes Award, Best of the Festival Award
Durban International Film Festival, July 2023 (South Africa) - African Premiere
Melbourne International Film Festival, Août 2023 (Australia) - Australian Premiere
HollyShorts Film Festival, Août 2023 (Canada) - Official Selection
The Corner Seats International Film Festival, April 2023 (India)
Norwegian Short Film Festival, June 2023 (Norway)
Cinema Jove - Valencia International Film Festival, June-July 2023 (Spain)
New Directors New Films, June 2023 (Portugal)
CineFest Miskolc, Septembre 2023 (Hongaria)
Galway Film Fleadh, Juillet 2023 (Ireland) (UK)
Festival de cinéma de la ville de Québec (FCVQ), Septembre 2023 (Québec)
Filmoramax, Septembre 2023 (Lyon, France)
Off-Courts Trouville, Septembre 2023 (France)
Twin Cities Arab Film Festival, September 2023 (USA)
Sarajevo Film Festival, Août 2023 (Bosnie)
Cinemagic Belfast, Octobre 2023 (UK)
Arab Film Festival, Novembre 2023 (San Francisco)
CineKid Festival, Octobre 2023 (Netherlands)
CUT TO : GENT Short Film Festival, Septembre 2023 (Belgique)
Tehran International Short Film Festival, October 2023 (Iran)
KUKI Film Festival (Interfilm Berlin), Novembre 2023 (Allemagne)
Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, November 2023 (USA)
Beirut Shorts Film Festival, November 2023 (Lebanon)
Izmir International Short Film Festival, November 2023 (Turkey)
Plein(s) Écran(s), Janvier 2024
Sapporo International Short Film Festival & Market, November 2023 (Japan)
Sharjah Film Platform, December 2023 (Sharjah)
Gala IRIS Quebec Cinema, December 2023
Feature Film Debut (Untittle)
In development
Screenwriter and Director
Chef Saïd
In development
Short animated-documentary film
Screenwriter and Director
Produced by SCARA—B Films | Distribution H264
FARAWAY
2020
Documentary short (16 min)
Director | Screenwriter
Produced by Aziz Zoromba, Carol Nguyen | H264 Distribution, SCARA—B Films
30+ Festivals
Vimeo’s Staff Pick’s Best of the Year (2022)
RIDM, 2020 / Montréal
Slamdance, 2021 / Park City, Utah
Tirana International Film Festival, 2021
Palm Springs International ShortFest, 2021 / Palm Springs
Indy Shorts International Film Festival, 2021
Camerimage Festival, 2021 / Poland
Camden International Film Festival, 2021
MENTORSHIP & EDUCATION
TIFF TALENT LAB (2023)
RIDM Talent Lab (2021)
Sundance Ignite Fellow (2019)
Mel Hoppenheim, Concordia University / BFA Film Production (2015-2018)
BURSARIES & GRANTS
CHEF SAÏD
Canada Council for the Arts — Development grant
SIMO (2022)
SODEC — Production grant
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) — Production grant
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) — Production grant
Canada Council for the Arts — Production grant
Canada Council for the Arts — Development grant
FARAWAY (2020)
Hot Docs Canada Cross Current Fund
Canada Council for the Arts — Production grant
Sundance Ignite grant
SODEC — Distribution grant