Maria Zvezdina
Filmmaker
Telling stories that stay with you
About Me
Maria Zvezdina is a Toronto-based writer-director focused on realism and emotionally grounded, character-driven storytelling. A graduate of Toronto Film School with an extensive background in fine arts, she brings a strong visual sensibility to intimate, human stories.
She has directed Adriano, Village Mart, Falling into Silence, and other short films. Her work has received multiple festival recognitions and has been screened at TIFF Lightbox and Hot Docs. Beyond directing, she has contributed to film productions as a production designer and BTS photographer.
Maria continues to develop films exploring human connection, cultural identity, and the complexities of relationships.
Demo Reel
Selected Films
Village Mart
A young immigrant woman, working her first shift alone at a convenience store, encounters unfriendly customers, language barriers, and cultural clashes. An unexpected moment of connection reminds her why she chose to be there
Adriano
Adriano, a middle-aged father, wakes up with a hangover to find himself hosting his teenage daughter, Katy. Her attempts to reconnect with him fall short, and the arrival of her new boyfriend, a filmmaker, only complicates things further. Over two chaotic days filled with arguments and surprises, father and daughter rediscover their bond.
Falling into Silence
Clara lives in the moment, while James believes life happens somewhere in the future. Their relationship falls back into the same patterns as Christmas approaches. Will they ever truly hear each other?
