Crescent Productions is a film and video production company focused on promoting greater understanding and tolerance of different cultures and religions, particularly Islam.

We recognize the need to educate about Islam, the diversity amongst Muslim cultures, and the rich history of Muslim civilizations.

The company was initially geared towards producing multimedia content for corporate clients, among whom were Telus, Petro-Canada, and Matrikon. We have shifted our focus now towards producing historical and cultural films.

Aleem Karmali, Producer / Director

Aleem Karmali's mission is to combine his creative talents with a strong academic foundation in order to produce creative, balanced and intelligent films about Islam and Muslim societies.

Aleem is a writer, director, editor and producer, and has been working on professional video and audio productions since 1997.

He has an MA in Visual Anthropology at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and completed the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London.

His most recent films are the short documentaries "Transmission: A portrait of an Ismaili Muslim family in Tajik Badakhshan" and "Home Away From Home: The Return of Ismaili Muslims to Uganda." He premiered the latter at the Duke-UNC Islamic Studies conference in 2009.

Aleem has produced a total of nine documentaries, seven short films and two plays. Among these are the documentaries "Advancing the Islamic Intellectual Tradition" and "Learning... By Heart," as well as the entertaining short films "Evasion" and "Bored to Death," which have screened at film festivals across Canada.

Aleem previously worked for the Heritage Community Foundation as a Video and Audio Editor, editing "Alberta Moments," a series of broadcast public service announcements, and a variety of other cultural heritage documentaries.

He has produced corporate multimedia projects for Petro-Canada, Telus, Matrikon, Hilton Garden Inn and Women Building Futures, and was the Editor and Sound Designer for the independent feature film "247 High Street" in 2001.

Aleem has twice received the Film and Video Arts Society's (FAVA) Lisa Trofimova Video Prize in 2002 and 2004, and won a Mosquer award in 2007 for "Advancing the Islamic Intellectual Tradition."

Aleem also has a BA Honours in Communication Studies and Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, and completed FAVA's 16mm film production program in 2003. He is fluent in English and has studied both Arabic and French.