The Blind Owl

Based on the classic Iranian novel by Sadegh Hadeyat and adapted for the screen by Writer/Director Mazdak Taebi, The Blind Owl is a story of obsession, love and despair. 

The film is finished production and needs a final push to get ready for a film festival release !

The trailer for The Blind Owl

Director Mazdak Taebi and Producer David Antoniuk have known each other since they went to film school in the early nineties.  Since then they have been labouring behind the scenes on other people's movies.  They wanted to make a film on there own terms, exploring visual story ideas.  They spent a lot of time and sweat equity and in the final stages of post and need some help.

PRODUCER WRITER DIRECTOR - MAZDAK TAEBI

This is Mazdak Taebi's second feature film. His first, Mercy, played at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006.

PRODUCER - DAVID ANTONIUK

This is David's first feature as lead producer.  He worked as a co-producer on Danishka Esterhazy's award winning feature, Blackfield and has produced and directed a few award winning short films.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. -Wayne Gretzky

What We Need & What You Get

The movie has been a labour of love for Maz and I. And thus far it has been a self funded.  We need some help to get to the finish line.

The money will be used for;  

• Sound design and final mix
  
• Visual Effects
  
• Online and Colour Correction
• Marketing

As perks we are offering in addition to our eternal gratitude digital access to the movie, BluRay's, T-Shirts, dinner at a Persian restaurant in Toronto with Director Mazdak and lead Actor Sasan.

The Impact

The Blind Owl is a very resonant story in Iranian culture.  A few people have tried to adapt it with limited success. Maz's approach to the story is fresh and new while still respecting the salient, timeless qualities of the original work.  The book author Sadegh Hedayat had challenges as an immigrant, living and ultimately dying in France.  Mazdak identified with Sadegh Hedayat's journey as an immigrant and has threaded it into our version of the film.

Risks & Challenges

Shooting over a period of 12 months, it was a challenging film to make.   No one who undertakes this kind of venture does so alone. Many people volunteered their time and creative energy to help us get where we are now.  Maz and I have been paying for it out of the money we make working our day jobs.  As with any creative enterprise, mistakes were made. We learned from them, regrouped and kept going.  But as always, we get by with a little help from our friends!


Mistakes are the portals of discovery. -James Joyce

Other Ways You Can Help

We know that a lot of people come to you with there hand out and money can be tight.

So no worries, keep a good thought and wish us luck ! 

If you feel like letting other people know about the campaign, thank you, thank you , thank you !

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
–Edith Wharton