Name: Hunaina Hirji

Recipient Year: 2025

Major: Film and Television Production

Description: Hunaina Hirji is a director and sound designer based in Southern California, currently pursuing a BFA in Film & Television Production at Chapman University. Her work spans narrative, documentary, and commercial projects, often exploring themes of identity, community, and cultural duality. As a Muslim woman in filmmaking, Hunaina is committed to bringing underrepresented voices to the screen, creating work that reflects the complexity and nuance of her community. She is the founder and creative director of H² Productions, a filmmaking and photography company dedicated to precision and purposeful storytelling. Her films have screened at festivals including the Newport Beach Film Festival, LA Shorts International Film Festival, and Orange County Film Festival. She was named Artist of the Year by the Orange County Register in both 2023 and 2024, and Filmmaker of the Year by the Orange County Film Festival in 2024.

School Name: Chapman University

Sponsor: Alassar Family Scholarship

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunainahirji/