Shasha Nakhai is a Filipino-Iranian Canadian film director, most noted as co-director with Rich Williamson of the 2021 film Scarborough.Barry Hertz, "How Scarborough’s filmmakers overcame a pandemic, Plexiglass and a pint-sized budget to make a new Canadian masterpiece". The Globe and Mail, February 24, 2022. The film won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Picture, and Nakhai and Williamson won the award for Best Director, at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.Jenna Benchetrit, "Scarborough wins 3 Canadian Screen Awards, including best motion picture". CBC News, April 10, 2022.
A partner with Williamson in the production firm Compy Films,Lauren Malyk, "Cameras roll on Compy Films’ Scarborough". Playback, August 26, 2019. she first became known for her 2018 documentary film Take Light,Jordan Pinto, "Gravitas Ventures picks up Shasha Nakhai’s Take Light". Playback, August 23, 2018. which was a CSA nominee for Best Short Documentary at the 5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017.Brent Furdyk, "2017 Canadian Screen Awards nominees revealed". Global News, January 17, 2017. She was also a producer of Williamson's short documentary film Frame 394,Tara Deschamps, "‘Frame 394’ documentary questions what happened in Walter Scott police shooting in South Carolina". Toronto Star, March 10, 2017. which was a CSA nominee for Best Short Documentary at the 5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017.Brent Furdyk, "2017 Canadian Screen Awards nominees revealed". Global News, January 17, 2017.
Scarborough, codirected by Nakhai and Williamson as their debut narrative feature film, premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.Rebecca Rubin, "Toronto Film Festival Unveils Contemporary World Cinema and Discovery Lineup". Variety, July 28, 2021. It was named the winner of the Changemaker Award, was first runner-up for the People's Choice Award, and received an honorable mention from the jury for the Best Canadian Film award.Steve Pond, "‘Belfast’ Wins Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award". TheWrap, September 18, 2021. It was nominated for the Toronto Film Critics Association's Rogers Best Canadian Film Award.Pat Mullen, "Drive My Car Leads TFCA Award Winners". That Shelf, January 16, 2022.
Her other films have included The Sugar Bowl (2011), Paruparo (2013), 18 Roses (2016), The Hole in Reservoir Hill (2018)"Short doc explores North Bay's cold war past". CBC Northern Ontario, September 19, 2018. and Thirty Eight Minutes (2020).
In 2026 she was a producer of Kenya-Jade Pinto's documentary film The Sandbox.Jamie Casemore, "Kenya-Jade Pinto’s The Sandbox slates CPH:DOX premiere". Playback, February 13, 2026.
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