Matthew Leander Kalil is an interdisciplinary artist who works with text, sound, figure, space, and image. These different aspects constellate in film projects.
He studied Philosophy (BA) at The New School and Architecture (M.Arch) at The University of Toronto.
He has worked at Office of Adrian Phiffer and is a researcher and editor at the Canadian Centre for Architecture.
Leander’s work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.
He lives in Montréal.
m.leanderkalil@gmail.com
+1 416 910 9378
All works, images, text, and any other material appearing on this website, unless otherwise stated is
© Matthew Leander Kalil
Water Tricks
2026
A short narrative fiction film about an exiled princess who is mysteriously going blind.
16mm colour.
Currently in post-production, scheduled for release Summer 2026.
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Writer, composer, director, producer
m. Leander Kalil
Cast
Olivia Norrmén-Smith
Matias Contal
Dara Najmabadi
Rosalind Jay
Simon Petapiece
Nellie Jalal-Zadeh
David Switchenko
Mehdi Latifian
Greg Kalil
Director of photography
William Albu
First assistant director
Gabrielle Écuyer
Production managers
Max Holzberg
Camille Lavallée-Prairie
Line producer
Max Holzberg
Production designers
m. Leander Kalil & Angela Cho
Costume designer
Sophie Edell
Art director
Angela Cho
Prop master
Katrina Jurjans
Script supervisor
Sophie Edell
Gaffer
Pascale Dulude-de Broin
Key grip
Hugo Roy
Swing
Tristain Alain
Executive producers
Angela Cho & Alana Friend-Lettner
Sound recordist
Giulio Trejo Martinez
Boom operator
Paloma Daris-Bécotte
Production consultant
Joyce Joumaa
Script consultants
Olivia Norrmén-Smith & Przemek Piwek
Location manager
Kim Kalil
Catering
Kim Kalil
Greg Kalil
16mm colour.
Currently in post-production, scheduled for release Summer 2026.
Writer, composer, director, producer
m. Leander Kalil
Cast
Olivia Norrmén-Smith
Matias Contal
Dara Najmabadi
Rosalind Jay
Simon Petapiece
Nellie Jalal-Zadeh
David Switchenko
Mehdi Latifian
Greg Kalil
Director of photography
William Albu
First assistant director
Gabrielle Écuyer
Production managers
Max Holzberg
Camille Lavallée-Prairie
Line producer
Max Holzberg
Production designers
m. Leander Kalil & Angela Cho
Costume designer
Sophie Edell
Art director
Angela Cho
Prop master
Katrina Jurjans
Script supervisor
Sophie Edell
Gaffer
Pascale Dulude-de Broin
Key grip
Hugo Roy
Swing
Tristain Alain
Executive producers
Angela Cho & Alana Friend-Lettner
Sound recordist
Giulio Trejo Martinez
Boom operator
Paloma Daris-Bécotte
Production consultant
Joyce Joumaa
Script consultants
Olivia Norrmén-Smith & Przemek Piwek
Location manager
Kim Kalil
Catering
Kim Kalil
Greg Kalil