Yearbook Secures Funding to Advance Proof-of-Concept Short
A breakthrough in fundraising, Yearbook Films has been awarded full production funding from the Canada Council for the Arts; a milestone that allows the team to move forward with development.
Yearbook’s proof-of-concept short film, titled ‘I Am, For You’, has previously been recognized as a semi-finalist in Outstanding Screenplays – Shorts 2024, in the Screencraft Virtual Pitch Fall 2024, and the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund. Additionally, ‘I Am, For You’ is in the top 1% of scripts on Coverfly.
Told through the eyes of nineteen-year-old Shaghayegh (Shaggy), I Am, For You is a coming-of-age film about a young woman wrestling with immigrant guilt as she steps into independence. On the eve of leaving for university, during her final shift at the family’s rundown bowling alley/karaoke bar, Shaggy confronts the weight of abandoning parents she has long helped navigate every aspect of life. With limited English and surrounded by a city that remains largely discriminatory and unwelcoming, they must now fend for themselves without her, forcing Shaggy to decide what it truly means to begin her own life while leaving theirs behind.
Development of this script began in February of 2024, and with newfound financial support of this project provided by Canada Council for the Arts, pre-production is expected to commence in the Winter of 2025. Production is set to launch in the Spring, 2026.
Writer-director Saba Askari shares, “When we received the news, we were stunned- and so deeply grateful to the council for selecting us. I FaceTimed our team and could hardly get the words out, just overwhelmed with joy that we get to bring this project to life. This film is a love letter to my parents, whose sacrifices in leaving their lives behind in Iran have allowed me to pursue mine here.”
Co-director Jenelle Hagerman shares, “It is really the first big break for us. Everything we’ve made up until now has been on our own. I can’t wait for what these next few months bring.”
The short film is expected to premiere at festivals in the 2027 year, with additional distribution plans to follow.
Stay connected to Yearbook Films’ News page for updates on ‘I Am, For You’, behind-the-scenes insights, and festival announcements.
