Award-Winning Film His Father’s Son Screens at HAAPIFest with Special Guest Director Meelad Moaphi
HAAPIFest is thrilled to feature His Father’s Son, the debut feature film from award-winning director Meelad Moaphi, as part of its 2025 lineup. The film will screen on Sunday, June 1 at 5:15 PM at the DoubleTree by Hilton (10609 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX 77042), with a special in-person appearance by the director following the screening.
🎬 A Story of Truth, Inheritance, and the Bonds That Bind Us
Fresh off its award-winning run at the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival—where it earned the DGC Best Direction Prize and the Blue Ant Media Audience Choice Award—His Father’s Son dives deep into the complexities of family, identity, and legacy. The screening will be followed by an intimate meet-and-greet with director Meelad Moaphi, offering audiences a unique opportunity to engage with the filmmaker and explore the story behind the story.
The film follows Amir, an aspiring chef who struggles under the weight of his Iranian parents’ expectations while his younger brother, Mahyar, breezes through life. When a close family friend in Iran passes away, leaving his entire inheritance to Mahyar, the bequest triggers a series of revelations that shake the family’s foundations and unearth long-buried truths.
👤 Meet Director Meelad Moaphi
Born in Iran and raised in Japan, Meelad Moaphi is a Toronto-based filmmaker whose multicultural roots deeply influence his storytelling. With a background in international filmmaking, his award-winning shorts have screened at festivals around the globe. He served as Associate Producer on Concrete Valley (TIFF 2022, Berlinale 2023) and currently teaches as an Assistant Professor of Film at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Audiences will have a unique opportunity to hear from Meelad directly during a post-screening meet-and-greet.
Event Details:
Film: His Father’s Son
Director Appearance: Meelad Moaphi
Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025
Time: 5:15 PM
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, 10609 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX 77042
Tickets: www.haapifest.org/tickets
Don’t miss this HAAPIFest highlight — a film that will move your heart, challenge your assumptions, and stay with you long after the credits roll.