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From behind the camera

Stories

Notes on documentary craft, branded storytelling, and the work behind films that move people. New writing most weeks.

Documentary

Listen

A documentary on the hidden struggles of female South Asian students in Canada. Survivors, counsellors, and advocates speak up and call for change.

A still from a Kahani Pictures documentary shoot

Behind the Scenes

Why we shoot every interview with two cameras

A single camera forces the edit. A second one serves the story. Here's why the extra setup is worth it.

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Documentary

Exonerated

The flaws and failures of the death penalty are more apparent than ever. One of its biggest problems is the failure to ensure that an innocent person will not be wrongfully sentenced to death and executed. Lush has an ambition to stand up for the communities in which they do business. In that regard they are unlike any other brand. The decision to address the flaws of the American death penalty was sure to attract controversy, but that doesn’t stop Lush from being champions for pivotal human rights issues. In true Lush fashion, they created the limited edition “31 States Bath Bomb,” with all funds raised going towards organizations working to end the death penalty as a form of capital punishment . Online and in store, they collected signatures for a petition that encouraged members of the Senate and House of Representatives to abolish the death penalty.

E4E Relief

E4E Relief: Hurricane Helene

One year after Hurricane Helene, employees and employers reflect on what Emergency Financial Relief made possible. Filmed for E4E Relief. [TK Inder: confirm this is the right film and summary.]

e4e-relief-hurricane-helene

MiMOKO

When artisan Monique welcomed her son Oscar, she didn't pause her craft—she reimagined it, weaving their shared moments into her creative process. Through our lens, we captured this delicate dance between motherhood and artistry, revealing how each handcrafted piece carries not just the marks of her skilled hands, but also the joy of a studio now filled with a child's laughter. This glimpse into MiMOKO's evolution shows how life's greatest challenges can inspire our most authentic creations, inviting others to connect with both the artistry and the heartfelt story behind each piece.

mimoko

Impact Storytelling

The first question we ask every nonprofit

Before budgets or timelines, we ask one thing: who needs to feel something, and what should they do next?

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“

A huge thank you to the team at Kahani Pictures – your professionalism, creativity, and passion for this project made this process feel easy. Thank you for creating such a wonderful video and capturing the essence of what it means to be a social purpose business.

Lauren Stanton Nixdorf, Operations Coordinator

Documentary

Trophy

The Fur Bearers

Releasing Pets from Animal Traps

The Fur Bearers, known for their steadfast advocacy for fur-bearing animals, sought to address a critical issue: the accidental trapping of pets in devices meant for wild animals. Recognizing the need for high-quality, informative guidance, they partnered with Kahani to create a comprehensive guide.

releasing-pets-from-animal-traps

Zero Emissions Building Exchange (ZebX)

Reaching The Top Step

The Zero Emissions Building Exchange (ZEBx) is at the forefront of supporting Vancouver's building sectors in their transition to carbon efficiency, aligned with Clean BC’s climate action plan. The challenge? To navigate the complexities of these fast-paced, globally connected industries. ZEBx envisioned a comprehensive video to highlight the residential sector's journey towards achieving the highest tier of the BC Energy Step Code, aiming for net-zero homes that substantially lower BC's carbon footprint.

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Branded Content

What makes branded content actually worth watching

The fix for boring branded content isn't a bigger budget. It's being honest about why anyone would press play.

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Behind the scenes

United Way Social Purpose Institute

Integrating Purpose In Business

United Way's Social Purpose Institute has crafted a unique curriculum designed to embed purpose as a core metric in business operations. Far beyond creating inspirational wall statements, this program equips businesses with tangible tools and metrics to make significant societal contributions. To vividly showcase the program's impact, they partnered with Kahani for a compelling brand showreel.

integrating-purpose-in-business

Econic

Forget Fast Fashion

Econic, leading the charge against fast fashion's negative impact, embodies ethical and sustainable apparel production. Their commitment to organic materials and eco-friendly processes aligns perfectly with our ethos at Kahani. Recognizing the need for a Vancouver-based video production company that shares their values, Econic chose us to visually articulate their mission. We're not just crafting a message; we're showcasing a movement towards responsible fashion.

forget-fast-fashion

Surrey Hotel Motel Association

You Are Welcome Here

The Surrey Hotel Motel has recently teamed up with Discover Surrey and Sport Surrey to collaborate on storytelling to entice group travel to the city of Surrey. They sought out a video production company that could capture the essence of Surrey’s hospitality and exciting amenities. In particular, they’re hoping to increase awareness to the City’s vibrant diversity in both culture and opportunities for visitors to enjoy Canada’s fastest growing City.

you-are-welcome-here

Behind the scenes

Purity Designs

The Little Farmhouse

Purity Designs is an award-winning interior design company that's headed by Sydney Carlaw. Her values of family, faith, and beautiful design permeate throughout her work, so much so that Purity's office is located on the Carlaw family property: a beautiful five acre garlic farm nestled in Langley, B.C. When Sydney first moved to the farmhouse, it was a quick decision made in good faith that being in such a beautiful place would be a healthy transition for herself, husband, and two young daughters. The catch being that the house on this farm wasn't exactly sized for a growing family. Having to all share one bathroom (which is also the laundry room), things begun feeling cramped as Sydney's daughters grew into their teenage years. So they decided to expand their little farmhouse into a larger home that could be the place of dreams.

the-little-farmhouse

HCMA

The Space Between

As an architecture firm, HCMA has always been dedicated to creating buildings that reflect the unique lived experiences of the people who use them. Whether it is a school, community centre, or a library, their structures are designed to be a true reflection of the communities that they serve. Despite this, typical industry reports aren't able to fully convey the emotional impact of their buildings. These stories need something more emotive.

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“

I had been holding our origin story for 4 years, with the intention of sharing it only when I found a team that valued how we transformed through the trauma. From the first conversation, the KAHANI Pictures team was a match. Inder and Dani saw our humanity beyond the violence enacted upon us. They encouraged me to share the complexities in my history. As we spent days together sifting through moments and memories, I felt their priority was capturing our journey with care. This experience, for me, was a beautiful collaboration between storytellers.

Aisha Kiani, founder I Dream Library

iNVANCiTY

Cordera

Miguel Ángel Cordera is an abstractionist painter whose work has been exhibited around the world. In Mexico, his work has been featured in multiple publications and exhibitions at prestigious venues like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Miguel's art has been described as provocative, eclectic, and exuberant. Miguel is bipolar.

cordera

Vancouvermom.ca

As a mother

Vancouvermom.ca is an online magazine aimed at empowering mothers with access to resources and inspiring stories.

as-a-mother

HCMA

HCMA Brand Showreel

HCMA has recently undergone a re-brand. Their ethos is to be curious and to make meaningful connections to the communities in which they work. As such, they required a different kind of brand video that could encapsulate the tapestry of their curiosity. So they came to us.

hcma-brand-showreel

City of Vancouver

A Continuous Journey

On May 23rd 1914, the Komagata Maru entered the Burrard Inlet. It was carrying 376 passengers, mostly Punjabi Sikhs, who wished to immigrate to Canada as denizens of the British Empire. The ship was never allowed to dock in Vancouver. After two gruelling months, it was sent back to India where a violent confrontation left many passengers dead, injured, and jailed. This tragic story marks an important moment in the City's history that demonstrates the sacrifices made by our ancestors that pioneered South Asian life in the west.

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All Stories

Behind the Scenes