Samiramis Kia is an Iranian-Canadian writer-director and film educator based in Toronto. Her films have screened internationally and received numerous awards, including the Norman McLaren Award at the Montreal World Film Festival for Land, Best Canadian Short Film at the Regina International Film Festival for Milk, and Best Director at the 2026 WIFT+ Toronto Showcase for Last Resort. Her debut feature, Drifting Stones, was supported by Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch program, as well as the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council. She is currently developing her second feature, Of Hands & Memories, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Alongside her filmmaking practice, Kia has taught a range of film courses at Toronto Film School since 2022.