The Volunteer

Sun Mar 1, 2026 3:00 PM - 5:00PM EST
Innis Town Hall, M5S 1J5

About the Event

In recognition of International Women’s Day, the Toronto Turkish Film Festival, in partnership with Ankara Library of Toronto presents the North American premiere of Gönüllü (The Volunteer), a powerful documentary that honors women filmmakers while drawing urgent attention to systemic violence against women and the collective struggle for justice.

This special screening will be followed by a live Q&A with co-director and producer Münire Armstrong, offering audiences a rare opportunity to engage directly with the creative and political forces behind the film.

The Film

The Volunteer tells the story of the We Will Stop Femicide Platform (KCDP) and its fight for justice on behalf of femicide victims in Turkey. The film not only follows the lawsuit seeking the organization’s dissolution but also highlights the inspiring efforts of volunteers in femicide cases, presenting a powerful narrative of solidarity and the struggle for women’s rights.

About the Directors

Münire Armstrong

Münire Armstrong is a Turkish-Canadian film producer based in Toronto with an MA in Cinema/Television and a BSc in Computer Engineering. After a decade in telecommunications, she transitioned to filmmaking.

She has produced ten feature films and numerous shorts and documentaries across Canada, Turkey, the U.S., Germany, Serbia, and the U.K. Her recent work includes Cat’s Cry (dir. Sanja Zivkovic), which premiered at the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival and won awards at VIFF and the 2025 Sofia Film Festival.

Armstrong also produced The Protector (dir. Lenin M. Sivam), which premiered at Fantasia 2022 and was distributed in Canada and internationally. Earlier credits include Tainted (2019), Witches in the Woods (2018), CBC Gem’s Ashbridge (2019), and international titles such as Bikini Moon, Kreuzberg, The Waiting Room, and White as Snow—films recognized at top global festivals.

Gelareh Kiazand

Gelareh Kiazand is an Emmy-winning producer and director of photography based in New York. Born in Iran in 1981, she graduated from Sheridan College in Toronto in 2003. With over two decades of experience, she has lived and worked across the Middle East, including Tehran, Istanbul, and Kabul.

Kiazand has filmed both fiction and documentaries for major outlets like VICE, PBS, Channel 4 (UK), and ARTE Germany. In 2013, she worked as second unit DP on Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Rock the Kasbah, and War Machine in Kabul.

In 2016, she became the first female DP of a cinematic film in post-revolution Iran. Since then, she has shot features in Germany, China, and Iran.

Her documentary credits include Teaching with the Nomads, Chasing Asylum, and Desert One. Kiazand now leads Seeto, her production company, creating projects that challenge Middle Eastern stereotypes through human-centered stories.

Location

2 Sussex Ave, Toronto, ON M5S 1J5