The Team Behind
Writers
Mary Darling and Clark Donnelly
This husband-and-wife writing team is known for stories that blend poetic intimacy with sociopolitical critique, resulting in films that ground human emotion in broader global realities. Their work often explores quiet acts of spiritual courage, shaped by a deep commitment to truth and justice.
Both became Bahá’ís during the Iranian Revolution and witnessed firsthand the exodus of Iranian Bahá’ís fleeing persecution. While personally connected to the material, they worked closely with Persian collaborators to ensure cultural authenticity and depth.
Can personal conviction endure in a world that rewards conformity?
Together, this ensemble brings a richly textured and globally informed presence to the screen.
Their shared commitment to socially conscious storytelling creates a powerful dynamic that elevates the film’s exploration of identity, resistance, and human connection.
Key Cast
Parmiss Sehat
As Layla Khosravi, a determined and intellectual Baháʼí woman.
Parmiss Sehat is an Iranian-Canadian actress based in Vancouver, British Columbia. A graduate of the University of British Columbia’s BFA program in acting, she has built a diverse career across theatre, film, and television.
Sehat is a recipient of the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for outstanding performance. Her theatre credits include productions with Bard on the Beach, Green Thumb Theatre, and Carousel Theatre.
In film and television, she has appeared in series such as Designated Survivor, The Good Doctor, The 100, and The Midnight Club, as well as films like Golden Delicious and A Very Merry Bridesmaid.
Behtash Fazlali
As Dr. Sasan Naderi, a compassionate Muslim neurologist.
Behtash Fazlali is an Iranian-Canadian actor based in Vancouver, known for his nuanced performances in film and television.
A graduate of Humber College’s Acting for Film and Television program, he has appeared in series such as The Flash, Arrow, Lucifer, and No Tomorrow. His film work includes Wired Shut and Motherland, the latter earning him a Canadian Screen Award in 2024.
Fazlali is recognized for bringing depth and authenticity to roles that reflect his cross-cultural experiences.
Anthony Azizi
As Farhad Khosravi, Layla’s father, a expelled professor and fun-loving scholar who runs a bookstore in Tehran.
Anthony Azizi is an Iranian-American actor based in Los Angeles, known for his extensive work in film and television.
He has held recurring roles in series such as 24, Lost, Commander in Chief, and Threat Matrix, and has guest-starred in numerous shows including The West Wing, Criminal Minds, and The Blacklist. His film credits include Eagle Eye, AmericanEast, and Septembers of Shiraz. A graduate of Muhlenberg College with a BFA in Theater Arts, Azizi began his acting career in New York’s theater scene before transitioning to screen.
He is a member of the Bahá’í Faith, which informs his commitment to roles that promote understanding and challenge stereotypes.
Shirin Youssefian Maanian
As Vida Khosravi, Layla’s steadfast mother, rooted in Baháʼí principles.
Shirin Youssefian is a British-Iranian actress, director, and singer known for her work in socially conscious theatre and film. Born in London, she initially studied mathematical engineering before pursuing a degree in drama.
Her passion for combining performance with social issues has led to works addressing human rights abuses, women’s treatment in Iran, and immigration. Notably, she performed her one-woman play “Pure,” about the Persian poetess Táhirih, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Youssefian has appeared in films such as Red Rose (2014), Pari (2020), and Cast Aside the Clouds. She is also a member of the musical group SKY, which sets Bahá’í writings to original compositions.
Vassilis Koukalani
As Mr. Ahmadi, a banned academic and emotionally elevated person, this character is a symbol of defiance and quiet resistance.
Vassilis Koukalani is a Greek-Iranian actor based in Athens, known for his compelling performances in international cinema and television.
Born in Cologne, Germany, to an Iranian father and Greek mother, he relocated from Tehran to Athens in 1980. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, Koukalani has portrayed complex characters in films such as Amerika Square (2016), Pari (2020), and Red Rose (2014). His television work includes roles in series like Tehran and Commandos and Dragons. Fluent in multiple languages, Koukalani brings depth to roles that explore themes of migration, identity, and social justice.
Djavad Djavahery
As Sasan’s uncle, a powerful traditionalist figure entrenched in conservative ideology who embodies the tension between patriarchal authority and generational change.
Djavad Djavahery is an Iranian-French writer and filmmaker known for his work exploring themes of exile, identity, and social justice.
Born in Iran, he relocated to France, where he has contributed to both literature and cinema. His notable works include the screenplay for La Sirène and the production of Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk.
Djavahery’s storytelling often reflects the complexities of cultural displacement and the human experience.
Cybele Hay
As Sasan’s reserved, yet compassionate mother
Cybele Hay is a trained actor returning to the screen in Cast Aside the Clouds (2025), portraying Hajj Khanum Naderi. After years devoted to family and community, her performance marks a powerful reemergence. Her nuanced contribution to the character underscores the film’s central theme—that even deeply rooted cultural beliefs can evolve and transform.
“Is it nonsense for people to investigate the truth for themselves instead of following a clergy blindly?”
—Sasan, Cast Aside the Clouds
Key Crew
The crew behind Cast Aside the Clouds merges artistic precision with heartfelt purpose.
United by a shared dedication to story-first, impact-driven filmmaking, their collaboration results in a film that delivers a valuable message in a stunning form.
Mary Darling
Director, Writer, and Producer
Mary Darling is an award-winning director and producer known for telling emotionally resonant stories that foster connection across cultures. She co-created the groundbreaking series Little Mosque on the Prairie, which aired in over 80 countries and challenged stereotypes with humor and heart. With over 700 hours of work distributed globally, her storytelling centers on empathy, identity, and the shared search for belonging.
Bre Vader
Co-Director and Co-Writer
Bre Vader’s approach to filmmaking is rooted in deep emotional sensitivity and intuitive rhythm. She fosters a space where actors feel safe to explore vulnerability, and her empathetic lens ensures even the quietest emotional beats land with authenticity and resonance.
Her previous works include directing Karim & Honey (2019), Uncharted (2020), Exemplar (2021)— a film exploring the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá — and Nineteen (2024).
Felicia Sobhani
Co-Director
Felicia Sobhani brings a keen attention to detail and a meticulous eye that ensures continuity and layered meaning in every frame.
An Iranian-German filmmaker based in New York City, she is a graduate of NYU Tisch.
Her credits include Ayat (2021), Are the Oranges Sweet? (2021), The Big Three (2022), and research for HBO’s Emmy-winning Hostages (2022). She also co-wrote and co-directed Fullstop (2025), a short film on female friendship and period positivity, which screened at the Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival and the Ennesimo Film Festival in Italy.
Payam Zamani
Producer
Born in Tehran in 1971, Payam Zamani survived religious persecution as a member of the Bahá’í Faith, fleeing Iran at 16 and crossing the Dasht-e Lut desert to Pakistan before resettling in the U.S. in 1988.
His journey from exile to entrepreneur is chronicled in his bestselling memoir Crossing the Desert, which explores how hardship shaped his commitment to building a more conscious form of capitalism.
Alongside his entrepreneurial business success, Zamani is a philanthropist and values-driven media advocate. He co-founded BahaiTeachings.org and supports stories that uplift, educate, and inspire.
Shahin Sobhani
Producer
Shahin Sobhani is an Iranian-American-Canadian entrepreneur and executive producer dedicated to meaningful, culturally resonant storytelling.
Founder of SwissVBS, acquired in 2019, he invests in UK-based production companies like Blazing Griffin and Tiny Speck Productions.
Shahin was instrumental in helping to finance Cast Aside the Clouds, a film he feels reflects important themes such as spiritual resilience and cultural identity. A lifelong Bahá’í, Sobhani bridges business strategy with creative vision for impactful global storytelling.
Produced by
Steven Solomos
Steve Solomos is a Toronto-based Film & TV Producer with over 25 years of experience and more than 60 features, TV movies, and series to his name.
His recent credits include Crimes of the Future and The Shrouds, Possessor, Close to You, and Seven Veils. Known for leading large-scale international co-productions, he specializes in budgeting, cross-border coordination, and cultural authenticity.
A dual Canadian-Greek citizen fluent in both languages, Solomos founded Marathon Man Productions in 2024, with offices in Canada and Greece.
Produced by
Panos Kouanis
Panos Kouanis brings over 30 years of leadership in the audiovisual industry, spanning broadcasting, film production, and public policy.
As former Chairman and CEO of Greece’s EKOME (2017–2023), he launched the country’s film incentive programs and national Film Offices network. Now a Producer at GravityBreath Pictures and Fund Manager at Ostracon Capital Investments, he bridges financial strategy with creative development.
Kouanis holds a Ph.D. in Economics and an M.Sc. in Film, and has worked internationally across media, distribution, and education.
Clark Donnelly
Writer and Producer
Clark Donnelly, a Manitoba native, began as a studio cameraman in Brandon before becoming vice president of a Regina TV station.
In 1989, he co-founded WestWind Pictures, opening a Toronto branch in 1998. The company has produced 650+ hours of lifestyle, children’s, documentary, and scripted television, including the hit Little Mosque on the Prairie.
With his wife Mary Darling, he co-wrote and co-produced Cast Aside the Clouds, pursuing stories that inspire meaningful change.
Houman Eshraghi
Production Designer
Houman Eshraghi is a multidisciplinary artist, production designer, and educator with over 20 years of experience in visual storytelling.
His work spans feature films, TV, and shorts, with credits on major projects for Marvel, Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros., Fox, Universal, Nickelodeon, and more.
Known for his aesthetic precision and spatial storytelling, Houman brings visual cohesion, narrative depth, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to every production.
Behnood Dadfar
Director of Photography
Behnood Dadfar is a cinematographer known for his emotive visual style and story-driven approach. He brings a cohesive visual voice to each project, exploring bold cinematic language through story-first collaborations.
With a strong foundation in lighting and camera movement, his work spans narrative film, series, and studio features for platforms like Netflix, HBO, Marvel, and Apple TV. Dadfar is an IATSE Local 600 member.
Bre Vader, Tal Bolin, and Noam Jenkins
Co-Writers
Mary and Clark invited Bre Vader, Tal Bolin, and Noam Jenkins to join the writing process, each bringing distinct creative insight and voice to the project.
Their collaboration helped shape a more layered, dynamic script — one enriched by multiple perspectives and strengthened by thoughtful dialogue across cultures and disciplines.
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