Behdad Esfahbod
he / they
/behˈ·dɒːd ɛs·fæhˈ·boːd/ ▶
behdad.org
behdad@behdad.org
Edmonton, Canada
Behdad Esfahbod is an Iranian-Canadian Software Engineer prominently known for his work on
Free & Open Source Software.
They are interested in photography and documentary / narrative filmmaking exploring mental health
and the human condition.
∞
Short Films
For for more information, see my films page.
∞
Group Exhibitions
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2025 — “Eternal Presence: Journey into the Mind”.
Bleeding Hearts Art Space, Edmonton, Canada
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2025 — One photograph.
The Artist’s Lens — Identity
;
ASA Gallery, Alberta Society of Artists, Calgary, Canada
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2024 — “MANIA”. Gifts of Madness;
Penticton Art Gallery, BC, Canada
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2024 — Two photographs.
The Artist’s Lens — Body
;
ASA Gallery, Alberta Society of Artists, Calgary, Canada
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2021 —
“The Prime Minister was in Tofino”. Hats Off;
a CARFAC Alberta Silent Auction FUNdraiser, Edmonton, Canada (sold)
∞
Awards & Festivals
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2024–10 — Official Selection, for MANIA. Little Venice Film Festival
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2024–09 — Official Selection, for MANIA. International Film Festival Manhattan
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2024–06 —
Honorable Mention: Best War/Western/History, for Eternal Presence: Journey into the Mind. Absurd Film Festival
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2024–06 —
Honorable Mention, for MANIA. Night of Drama Shorts
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2024–05 —
Silver Award: Best Editing, for Eternal Presence: Journey into the Mind. Independent Shorts Awards
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2024–05 — Finalist: Best Experimental Short, for Eternal Presence: Journey into the Mind. Indie Short Fest
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2024–01 — Best Health & Medicine Film, for MANIA. Berlin Kiez Film Festival
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2024–01 —
Best Health & Medicine Film, for MANIA. Mannheim Arts & Film Festival
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2024–01 —
Best Health & Welfare Film, for MANIA. Ponza Film Awards Italy
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2024 —
Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational: Merit, for MANIA. Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival
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2024 — Semi-Finalist, for MANIA. Courage Film Festival
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2024 — Honorable Mention, for Eternal Presence: Journey into the Mind. Experimental Forum
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2024 — Honorable Mention: Best Film on Mental Health, for MANIA. My Name is Climate Film Festival
∞
Film Production
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2022–2025 — Co-producer. Four Sisters by Mania Akbari,
Cryptofiction (unreleased)
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2021–2022 — Co-producer. How Dare You Have Such a Rubbish Wish
by Mania Akbari, Cryptofiction
[IMDB]
∞
Archival Film Work
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2022–2024 — Photography / videography / editing of protests and marches
for the “Women, Life, Freedom” Iranian movement, Edmonton, Canada
∞
Software Engineering
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Since 2021 — Software Engineering Consultant, Edmonton, Canada
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2019–2020 — Senior Staff Software Engineer,
Facebook Inc., Washington State, USA
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2010–2019 — Senior Staff Software Engineer,
Google Inc., Canada & California, USA
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2006–2010 — Software Engineer,
Red Hat Inc., Toronto, Canada
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2003 — Co-Founder,
Sharif FarsiWeb Inc., Tehran, Iran
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2000–2003 — Software Engineer,
FarsiWeb Project, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
∞
Software Projects
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Since 2005 —
HarfBuzz
Primary author & developer
-
Since 2013 —
FontTools
Co-maintainer & developer
For presentations and whitepapers, see my homepage.
More Open Source projects available on GitHub.
∞
Education
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2009–2012 — Evening MBA, Rotman School of Management,
University of Toronto, Canada
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2003–2006 — M.Sc. in Computer Science,
University of Toronto, Canada
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2000–2003 — B.Sc. in Computer Engineering,
Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
∞
Awards
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2013 — “O’Reilly Open Source Award” for developing HarfBuzz
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2005 — “Google Summer of Code” grant for developing preload
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2000 — Gold Medal, 12th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI’2000), China
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1999 — Silver Medal, 11th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI’99), Turkey