Alex Eskandarkhah is a Rosie and DGC nominated Iranian-Canadian director, producer, writer, entrepreneur, actor and co-founder of the Collective for Black Iranians. His work as a director and producer with the Collective, and a producer of over 100 episodes of The Gifted Gab lead to directing and producing his broadcast hour documentary “Coaching While Black” which premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival and Reelworld Film Festival and Summit and was nominated for two AMPIA awards for Best Documentary Production over 30 minutes and Best Production Reflecting Cultural Diversity. The project earned Alex a nod on the Directors Guild of Canada Jean-Marc Vallée Discovery Award Long List for the 2023 festival season. Alex has directed several short films with the Collective, Mosquers Film Festival and CBC and was selected as one of 30 filmmakers for the TELUS Storyhive Black Creators Edition while simultaneously taking part in the National Screen Institute’s EAVE On Demand Access program for producers. Alex’s identity plays a role in his business pursuits as he also owns and helped build several other brick and mortar ventures in Alberta. Alex’s widely varying experiences in different arenas as well as his Afro-Iranian heritage and upbringing in inner-city Toronto informs his storytelling approach as a creative producer across all mediums. Alex has just wrapped up directing a short narrative film titled “Cycles” which will premiere on the festival circuit in 2025.