Our Team

Gillian Fortin is a Toronto-based award-winning filmmaker, writer, director, and producer whose work explores the complexities of morality through elevated genre storytelling and a distinctly feminist lens. Blending cinematic ambition with socio-political commentary, Fortin creates stories that challenge systems of power while examining vulnerability, identity, desire, and resilience at the heart of the human condition.

Her most recent directorial body of work includes Alarie Alienated, a prestige psychological drama examining parental alienation, identity fracture, and the quiet devastation of emotional abuse; The Line (2025), a tense psychological thriller set within a prison system that explores manipulation, obedience, and the darkness hidden within institutional power; and Serenity Spa (2025), a feminist sci-fi short set in a dystopian future where artificial intelligence commodifies intimacy and exploits male desire through illusion. Together, these works showcase Fortin's ability to fuse visual style with philosophical inquiry and emotional intensity.

Fortin's directorial debut, Portrait of Consumption, premiered to strong festival acclaim with screenings at Cinefest Sudbury, Raindance, and the Japan Indies Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Short Film. The film won Best Short Form Short Film at the Toronto Female Feedback Film Festival and continues to resonate for its sharp critique of social media, vanity culture, and the commodification of self-image.

As a writer, Fortin is currently building a bold slate of feature films and premium series. Her recent works include She Who Carries, a folklore horror feature rooted in witchcraft, inherited trauma, and feminine power; The Varin Experiment, a psychological thriller feature exploring the disturbing origins of Inmate 1017 from The Line; and Still Waters, a prestige crime-drama mini-series set in post-WWI Northern Ontario that follows war nurse Clara Fisher as she enters the dangerous world of bootlegging, corruption, and organized crime while fighting to survive in a male-dominated era.

Her true passion lies in feminist speculative fiction and philosophical science fiction. This growing slate includes Serenity Spa as an expanded series concept, along with features such as Community Complex, The Nursery, and Null—all socially conscious genre works examining bodily autonomy, reproductive politics, identity, class systems, and the ethical dangers of technology and control.

Later this year, Fortin will direct her first documentary feature exploring the history of the studio as a creative space where artists, architects, and storytellers shape expressive worlds across cultures—from the earliest civilizations to modern global learning environments.

As a producer and founder of Fortin Films Inc., Fortin has collaborated on more than twenty-five projects across North America. Her producing credits include The Last King, the first-ever Iranian adaptation of a Stephen King screenplay, produced in Los Angeles, and a 2022 feature directed by Joanna Tsanis and starring Cristo Fernández (Ted Lasso). She is currently producing the dark comedy feature A Simple Solution, set to shoot in Toronto in early summer, as well as the mythological genre short Famished, scheduled for production in Los Angeles later this summer.

With a background spanning acting, producing, writing, and directing, Gillian Fortin brings a holistic and collaborative approach to filmmaking. She is dedicated to transforming genre cinema into a vehicle for justice, empathy, and cultural reflection—crafting bold, emotionally charged stories that challenge expectations while entertaining global audiences.

Ali Mashayekhi's filmography is marked by originality, emotional depth, and international reach. His portfolio includes over 85 film and television projects with 31 festival wins and 25 nominations. He made history by producing The Last King, the first-ever Iranian adaptation of a Stephen King screenplay. He also produced two seasons of the international traveling food show Evolving Vegan, hosted by Mena Massoud, showcasing his skill in both scripted and unscripted formats.

Among his most celebrated works are the award-winning short film Liminal (2020), the feature-length anthology An Assortment of Christmas Tales in No Particular Order (2019), and the acclaimed documentary Because One Day.

Ali Mashayekhi produced the feature film The Killgrin (2025), starring Cristo Fernández, which was acquired by Dark Sky Films for international distribution. The film was nominated in several categories at the prestigious FilmQuest Film Festival, further cementing its recognition within the genre film community.

His recent short films Heirlooms and Spaceman, starring Academy Award winner JK Simmons, had highly successful runs on the international film festival circuit including Fantasia, Bushwick and HollyShorts.

Ali Mashayekhi is an award-winning director whose work combines bold storytelling with striking visual style. His short film One and Two People won Most Original Concept at The Grave Plot Film Festival, among other accolades, establishing him as a director with a distinctive voice.

Ali's directing slate showcases his range across genres and themes, including Merging with the Infinite, A Monster Origin Story, Otherwise, The First Goodbye, Strange Lover, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Quarantine, Social Industrial Meltdown, Eulogy to Us, and The Last King (an adaptation of Stephen King's work).

Currently, Ali is in post-production on two ambitious projects: The Start of a Problem, a transitional-justice noir shot on studio green screen, and American Ingenuity, starring legendary Brian Cox, a daring sci-fi that challenges the plausible negative impact of AI on humanity.

Renowned for his collaborative spirit, Ali works seamlessly with cast and crew, drawing out powerful performances while fostering a creative and supportive set environment. His growing body of work reflects his passion for innovative cinema that entertains while sparking conversation.

Azra Manori is a dynamic entertainment lawyer, producer, and strategic dealmaker whose unique blend of legal expertise and creative instincts makes her an invaluable force in the evolving film and television landscape. As an Associate Lawyer at Hummingbird Lawyers LLP, Azra specializes in entertainment, corporate, and business law, representing artists, producers, production companies, and entrepreneurs through every stage of development—from rights acquisition and financing to production, licensing, and distribution. With a sharp understanding of both the legal framework and creative realities of the industry, she has built a reputation for protecting ideas while helping bring them to market.

Now expanding her footprint as a producer, Azra joins LIMN Productions alongside Gillian Fortin and Ali Mashayekhi, bringing a rare and powerful perspective to the company's slate of elevated genre films and premium storytelling. Having collaborated closely with both producers for the past five years, Azra has been an integral behind-the-scenes force across numerous projects, offering legal strategy, deal structuring, business guidance, and hands-on production support.

Her growing producing credits include The First Goodbye, Portrait of Consumption, I Keep Bumping Into Candy Maldonado, Redder, Serenity Spa, The Start of a Problem, and additional projects currently in post-production and development. With experience navigating both independent production and high-level legal negotiations, Azra bridges the worlds of artistry and execution—ensuring bold creative visions are matched by smart, sustainable business strategy.

At LIMN Productions, Azra will play a key role in packaging, financing, rights management, co-production strategy, and long-term company growth as the team builds an ambitious slate of genre-forward features and series designed for the global marketplace. Her presence gives LIMN a significant competitive advantage: a producer who understands not only how to make projects creatively compelling, but how to structure them intelligently from inception to distribution.

Grounded, strategic, and fiercely supportive of creators, Azra represents a new generation of producer-executives—professionals who understand that in today's industry, the strongest stories need both imagination and protection. As LIMN Productions grows into a bold new voice in elevated genre cinema, Azra Manori stands at the center of its foundation.