Hajar Moradi is an Iranian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada. With a profound dedication to the power of art as a catalyst for transformative conversations, Hajar explores the intricate dynamics of identity, resilience, and politics within the realms of existence and belonging. Her works span painting, installation, and video, delving into poignant subjects such as memory, displacement, female resilience in facing oppression, and the multifaceted nature of female identity in contemporary society.
Hajar Moradi holds a BFA (double major in graphic design and illustration) from Shahed Art University in Tehran, Iran. She is the recipient of numerous awards and grants from major national and international cultural organizations, including the Canada Council for the Arts (2020), the Ontario Arts Council (2017) and (2022), Canadian Screen Award Nomination for the best animated short (2023), Best Short Animation at FIC AUTOR Festival (2022), Special Jury Mention award for her animation film The Shadow of My Life at Mexico International Short Film Festival (2022), the third prize for her animation film The Shadow of My Life at Mecal Pro, the Barcelona International Short and Animation Film Festival (2022), and the First Prize for her short animated music video at the Farhang International Film Festival (2014).
Her work has been exhibited and screened across North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East, including at the Aga Khan Museum and the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, the Harlem International Film Festival in New York, The Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland, and the Barnes Film Festival in London, UK, and Mexico International Short Film Festival, Mexico.
Hajar Moradi is also the co-founder and Creative Director of Vivido Studio in Toronto, Canada.
AWARDS
2023 | Canadian Screen Awards | BEST ANIMATED SHORT nomination for The Shadow Of My Life
2023 | FilmHaus Festival, Berlin, Germany | 3 Nominations in 3 categories: Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Animated Film, and won The Best Animation Award
2022 | México – Author's International Film Festival / FIC AUTOR, Guadalajara, Mexico| Best Animated Short Film for The Shadow of My Life animation
2022 | Shorts México - Mexico International Short Film Festival | Special Jury Mention award in the International Animation Competition category for The Shadow Of My Life
2022 | Amsterdam International Film Festival | Best Animation (Honorable mention) for The Shadow of My Life animation
2022 | Mecal Pro, The Barcelona International Short, and Animation Festival | Third Prize for The Shadow of My Life
2022 | Ontario Art Council | Multi and Inter-Arts Projects
2020 | The Canada Council for the Arts | Concept to Realization Grant
2017 | Ontario Art Council | Media Artists Creation Projects 2017 (Mid-Career and Established)
2017 | Index Award 2017 | Finalist in “Digital Activism” Category for “Jensiat” Animated Web Comic
2015 | Farhang Film Festival 2015 | Second Prize for “Osyan (Commotion)” Animation
2014 | Farhang Film Festival 2014 | First Prize for short animation “Mr. Mean.”
EDUCATION
2006-2007 | Digital Animation, Vijeh School Of Visual Communication, Tehran, Iran
2001-2005 | Double Major Bachelor of Fine Arts In Illustration And Visual Communication, Shahed Art University, Tehran, Iran
ENGAGEMENT
2022 | The Power Plant’s RBC Emerging Artist Network member
2018 | Juror at Ontario Art Council, Media Artist Creation Project (Mid-Career and Established)
RESIDENCIES
2019 | Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Canada
MEDIA
2024 | The Washington Report - Raising Awareness of Iranian Women’s Struggles
2023 | Interview with CBC Manitoba about the Woman Life Freedom Banner Installation
2023 | Interview with CBC about the Woman Life Freedom Banner on display at CMHR
2022 | List of winners of the 24th edition of Mecal Pro
2018 | Interwoven at Bata Shoe Museum By The Medium
2018 | Top five sights at Nuit Blanche Toronto by Ryersonian
SELECTED SCREENINGS
2024 | Canada, Screening at Small World Center in Toronto
2023 | Canadian Screen Awards | BEST ANIMATED SHORT nomination for The Shadow Of My Life
2023 | Germany - FilmHaus Festival, Berlin | 3 Nominations in 3 categories: Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Animated Film, and won The Best Animation Award
2023 | Netherlands – International Film Festival The Hague | Official Selection for The Shadow of My Life
2022 | México – Author's International Film Festival / FIC AUTOR, Guadalajara, Mexico| Best Animated Short Film for The Shadow of My Life animation
2022 | Canada – Montreal International Animation Film Festival - ANIMAZE | Official Selection for The Shadow of My Life
2022 | US – St. Louis International Film Festival | Official Selection for The Shadow of My Life
2022 | Netherlands – Amsterdam International Film Festival | Best Animation (Honorable mention) for The Shadow of My Life animation
2022 | México – Shorts México - Mexico International Short Film Festival | Special Jury Mention award in the Internationa Animation Competition category for The Shadow of My Life animation
2022 | México – Pixelatl International Festival | Official Selection for The Shadow of My Life
2022 | Ireland – The 34th Galway Film Fleadh, Official selection for The Shadow Of My Life animation
2022 | Spain – Mecal Pro, The Barcelona International Short, and Animation Festival | World Premiere Screening of The Shadow of My Life
2022 | Brazil – Festival RNAB, "Revelando Novos Atores Brasileiros" | Official Selection for “Creation”
2022 | Portugal – Bizarrya Short Film Festival | Official Selection for “Creation.”
2021 | Italy – The Oudeis International Film Festival | Official Selection for “Creation.”
2021 | Mexico – Festival Internacional de Cine con Medios Alternativos FICMA | Official selection for “Creation” in the short competition category
2018 | UK – Barnes Film Festival | Creation was the Finalist in the Short Competition Category
2018 | USA – Harlem International Film Festival 2018 | Official Selection for “Creation,” Short Film
2018 | Italy – Lucca Film Festival & Europa Cinema 2018 | Official Selection for “Creation,” An Animated Short Film
2018 | Italy – River Film Festival 2018 | Official Selection for “Creation” in Short Competition
2018 | Canada – Group art show, Eran Gallery at Arta Gallery
2015 | USA – Farhang Film Festival
2014 | USA – Farhang Film Festival
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2023 - 2024 | Canada - Woman Life Freedom Installation at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg
2023 | Canada - Echos of Iran: A womxn’s tribute at Duran|Mashaal Gallery in Montreal
2022 | Canada - Group Show at centre[3] Gallery
2019 | Canada – Interwoven Performance/Installation at Aga Khan Museum. (3 weeks of performance)
2018 | Canada – Nuit Blanch 2018 | Interwoven Performance/Installation at Bata Shoe Museum
2014 | Canada – Chroma and Hue group show, Rebellion gallery
2012 | Canada – Group show, Arta Gallery
2011 | Canada – Group show, 918 Bathurst Gallery
2008 | Russia – Golden Bee 8 poster Biennial
2008 | Greece – Ten Images for Ithaca
2008 | Turkey – Urban Jealousy International Roaming Biennial
2007 | Italy – Good 50×70 Exhibition
2007 | Iran – 9th Tehran International Poster Biennial
2006 | Iran – Group painting exhibition, Haft Samar Gallery