Vancouver filmmaker Alexander Farah is celebrating a monumental achievement as his short film One Day This Kid has won the SXSW Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short Film. The 18-minute project, which explores the journey of a young Afghan Canadian boy named Hamed as he grapples with his sexuality, marks a significant personal and professional milestone for Farah, who never anticipated taking home such a prestigious award.
Farah, who grew up queer and Afghan in Vancouver, found it rare to see characters on screen that mirrored his own identity. His desire to create the representation he lacked led to the development of One Day This Kid, a film that has received critical acclaim since its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last September. The film has continued its successful run on the North American film circuit, garnering attention for its sensitive and authentic portrayal of queer experiences.
“This award is an incredible honour,” Farah said, expressing his surprise at the recognition despite the film’s overwhelmingly positive reception. “The warm reception from audiences has been very humbling.”
The film’s impact has been particularly profound among other queer men of colour who have rarely seen themselves represented in such a nuanced way. Farah shared that many viewers have reached out to express how deeply the film resonated with their own experiences.
“It’s incredibly moving to hear so many people say how touched they’ve been by the film,” he noted. “The emails I’ve received, thanking us for creating something that reflects their own struggles and triumphs, are the most rewarding part of this journey.”
The inspiration behind One Day This Kid comes from a piece of art by American artist and activist David Wojnarowicz, titled Untitled (One Day This Kid…). The artwork, which combines a photograph and text, offers a poignant glimpse into the life of a young queer boy living in a society that rejects him. Farah first encountered the piece around six years ago, and its themes of persecution, loss of civil rights, and surveillance deeply resonated with his own experiences as a queer Afghan man.
Farah explained that discovering the artwork was a turning point for him. “It made me reflect on my own journey growing up queer and Afghan, and how I could use this work as a way to tell my own story,” he said.
Although Farah applauds the growing trend of queer representation in film and television, he deliberately chose to step away from depicting only joyful and euphoric queer narratives. Instead, he wanted to capture the despair and isolation he felt growing up. “I wanted to reflect the years I spent in despair, the heartbreak and hopelessness I experienced, because those emotions are just as valid in the queer experience,” he explained.
Casting for One Day This Kid proved to be one of the most challenging aspects of production. Farah faced resistance when attempting to cast a young Middle Eastern queer boy for the lead role. After encountering significant backlash, he ultimately cast Elyas Rahimi, the nephew of a childhood friend, to portray the young Hamed. Rahimi was joined by his real-life sister, Tahera, and their mother, Roohafza, adding a personal and intimate layer to the film’s portrayal of family dynamics.
The film’s authenticity and emotional depth have made a strong impact on audiences, but Farah emphasizes that he does not want to dictate how viewers should feel. “I want people to experience the film in their own way, and if they walk away reflecting on the nuances of queerness, identity, and family, that’s enough for me,” he said.
As One Day This Kid continues to make waves in the film industry, Farah’s work stands as a testament to the power of representation and the importance of telling stories that reflect the diverse realities of queer individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities.
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