#FIRSTLOOK: ZARRAR KAHN’S “THE LION DOES NOT CONCERN HIMSELF” TO PREMIERE AT TIFF

Zarrar Kahn of CityLights Media, Lauren Saarimaki of POV Film and Mina Husain of Suno Studios are pleased to announce the gym-incel (“gym-cel”) romantic-comedy, The Lion Does Not Concern Himself, from writer/director Zarrar Kahn (In Flames) will have its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival in the Short Cuts Programme 2 programme. The film stars Mohammad Ali Hashmi (In Flames, Stray Dogs Come Out at Night), Naomi Eidinger (D.I.Y., Swiped), Richesse Kabongo (A.A. (The Alex & Ariel Story), and Steve Cartwright.

In the sterile glow of a Queen West gym, a young trainer broadcasts his ambitions to nine subscribers. When a new client disrupts his routine, the boundary between his online persona and true self becomes a choice that he isn’t ready to face.

The Lion Does Not Concern Himself is co-written by Kahn and Mohammad Ali Hashmi, and produced by Lauren Saarimaki and Hamza Bangash, executive produced by Mina Husain, with Nic Altobelli serving as Co-Producer and Mohammad Ali Hashmi as Associate Producer.

“We shot The Lion Does Not Concern Himself a few blocks away from TIFF at a local gym on Queen West. The film is sort of about the manosphere, sort of about the gender divide, and sort of about the inherent goofiness of falling in love. The Toronto audience is exactly who we made this movie for, and we’re thrilled to be at TIFF,” said Zarrar Kahn.

“After I started working out, I witnessed the absurdity of hyper-performative masculinity. This was where the idea of The Lion Does Not Concern Himself came from. As an actor, it was exciting to flex both my comedic and literal muscles,” said Mohammad Ali Hashmi.

“As a psychiatrist, I believe understanding men’s mental health means understanding the cultural landscape young men are navigating and the forces that shape their search for identity, connection, and belonging” said Executive Producer, Mina Husain.

Produced in partnership with POV Film, The Lion Does Not Concern Himself is also a testament to the power of on set mentorship. Nearly 80% of the crew were participants of POV’s inFOCUS Training Program, many earning their first professional screen credit on the production. Working alongside experienced industry professionals, participants helped bring the film to life.

“Working with POV’s participants on this set was incredibly special. Having The Lion Does Not Concern Himselfpremiere at TIFF is a testament that showcases what’s possible when you invest in the extraordinary community of diverse emerging talent from across Toronto,” said Lauren Saarimaki.

Cinematography by Ash Tailor (Save the Date, The Feeling of the Word Autumn), production design by Jaedan Royer-Alexander (POV Alumni), costume design by Kelly Henderson (Pit), and editing by Craig Scorgie (15 Ways My Dad Almost Died, In Flames) and Zarrar Kahn.

ABOUT ZARRAR KAHN

Zarrar Kahn is a Toronto-based filmmaker whose 2023 debut feature, In Flames, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival’s Director’s Fortnight, won Best Picture at the Red Sea Film Festival, and served as Pakistan’s official 2024 Academy Awards submission. Winner of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Debut Picture, Kahn is an alumnus of the Canadian Film Centre and TIFF Talent Lab. Kahn focuses on socially conscious genre filmmaking that highlights marginalized communities. He is currently directing his next major project, a climate thriller titled Suffering Is Optional. Produced by CityLights Media, the film stars Marvel breakout actress, Iman Vellani, as a young drama student grappling with institutional abuse and a ghostly climate prophecy.

ABOUT MOHAMMAD ALI HASHMI

Mohammad Ali Hashmi’s break-out performance in In Flames underscored his exceptional range and emotional gravity, solidifying his reputation as a transformative actor capable of anchoring high-stakes narratives with quiet nuance and authenticity. The Lion Does Not Concern Himself is his comedy debut – speaking to his immersive approach to character-driven storytelling. Hashmi is represented for commercial and screen work by the prestigious Amanda Rosenthal Talent Agency (ART), marking him as an exciting talent and one-to-watch for North American audiences.

ABOUT LAUREN SAARIMAKI

Lauren Saarimaki is a Toronto-based film producer, educator, and mental health advocate working at the intersection of storytelling and social impact. They manage programs & operations at POV Film, where they design and implement training for emerging, equity-deserving creatives. Their producing credits include Express (TIFF 2023), Streams Flow from a River (Canneseries 2023), Pink Elephant and The Newcomer. Their projects have also screened at festivals including Nightmares Film Festival, Image+Nation, Inside Out, the Canadian Film Festival, and the Kingston Film Festival. They are the co-founder and Vice President of Operations at Area V5 Pictures. Lauren is passionate about building safer, more inclusive working conditions in the film industry and creating stories that spark change.

ABOUT MINA HUSAIN

Dr. Mina Husain is a staff psychiatrist who works across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency psychiatry settings. Her clinical and research interests focus on global mental health, culturally adapted interventions, parenting, and trauma, with her work published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Alongside her clinical practice, Dr. Husain is a film producer dedicated to using storytelling to advance conversations around mental health. She has produced a number of short films exploring themes including psychosis, self-harm, autism, paternal postnatal depression, and men’s mental health. Her award winning work has been selected at international film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, and distributed on platforms including Amazon Prime. Dr. Husain is currently developing innovative interventions addressing the mental health impacts of climate change and trauma. She is the founder of Suno Studios, a production company focused on socially impactful storytelling, and the creator of the Suno Residency, a mental health and film fellowship that brings together filmmakers, clinicians, and people with lived experience to foster authentic and transformative narratives.

ABOUT POV Film

Established in 2007, POV Film is a charity whose mission is to educate, connect, and support young people from traditionally underrepresented communities to develop their talent and creative passion into successful careers in the screen industry. POV provides access to free skills training, job placements, mentorship and professional development opportunities. Our programs intentionally prioritize BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomer, and refugee communities to ensure everyone has access to the tools and training they need to tell the stories that mean the most to them.