Mississauga is steadily emerging as a hotspot for filmmaking. With eight established film studios offering over a million square feet of stage space, local creatives are seizing the opportunity to bring their stories to audiences worldwide. One such filmmaker making waves is Nader Nassereddine, a Mississauga-based actor, writer, and producer.
Nassereddine, a theatre enthusiast who attended Rick Hansen Secondary School in Streetsville before completing his degree at TMU in Toronto, recently released the short film Lost Memories. The project was produced alongside Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation and VisitMississauga, focusing on the emotional impact of Alzheimer’s disease on both patients and their loved ones.
After screenings at the Canadian & International Short Film Festival, where it earned an Award of Commendation, the short is now available on VIDIVERSE, an independent streaming platform launched by Australian filmmaker Alex Proyas, known for hits like I, Robot and Dark City.
Produced by Mikejeffwong Productions Inc., Lost Memories follows a young couple, Zachary (Nassereddine) and Daisy (Sabrina Knappett). The story opens with a difficult conversation about Daisy’s father’s decline, evolving into a reflection on how Alzheimer’s might affect their own future. Nassereddine says the idea came from personal experiences and a moment of curiosity: “How will you remember me when I can’t remember myself?”
While this is his first screenplay, Nassereddine has been exploring the effects of neurological illness through art since his teen years. His early theatre projects explored mental health and vulnerability, shaping the compassionate perspective that carries through to Lost Memories.
CAMH played a key role in ensuring the story remained medically accurate. Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition, affects hundreds of thousands of Canadians, often including memory loss, confusion, and personality changes. Nassereddine notes, “We didn’t want to dramatize like Hollywood often does. Our aim was to capture the real impact on the individual and their loved ones.”
The short film underwent ten script revisions before filming in Mississauga and Oakville. Locations like Gairloch Gardens, GameTime Social, and Film.CA Cinemas helped bring the story to life, grounding it in recognizable communities.
As January marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the wider release of Lost Memories offers audiences the opportunity to engage with its heartfelt message. Nassereddine hopes the short can grow into a feature-length project and continue to explore the lives of Zachary and Daisy.
“The goal is to tell stories that matter, make an impact, and eventually bring recognition to Mississauga as a creative hub,” he says. With 284 film projects completed in the city in 2024 alone, it seems Mississauga’s place on the cinematic map is only getting stronger.
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