Tan Safi is a Gadigal-born, award-winning video producer, writer, and director whose career is marked by a profound commitment to social justice, storytelling, and cultural representation. With over a decade of experience in the media industry, Safi has distinguished themselves as a versatile and dynamic filmmaker, dedicated to documenting stories that matter.
Safi's career began with influential roles in various media organizations, including The Chaser, BuzzFeed, SBS, Happy Studios, and GetUp. Their work spans a wide range of media formats, from television and digital content to music videos and documentary series.
In 2019, Safi made a significant career move to Lebanon, where they produced an 8-part documentary series titled 'Shway Shway,' meaning "little by little" in Arabic. This series highlighted the stories of SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa) change-makers, capturing the nuances of their experiences and contributions. 'Shway Shway' stands as a testament to Safi's ability to tell powerful stories that resonate with global audiences, shedding light on underrepresented voices and issues.
Safi's dedication to social justice extends beyond their professional work. They have actively volunteered to document injustices, using their skills to amplify marginalised voices and bring attention to critical social issues.
In addition to their documentary work, Safi has contributed to the world-first anthology "This Arab Is Queer," which features the memoirs of 18 Arab queer writers. Their chapter, titled "Dating White People," offers a compelling and courageous exploration of identity, culture, and personal experiences.
Throughout their career, Tan Safi has used their passport privileges to travel the world, capturing stories that inspire change and foster understanding. Their journey as a filmmaker, journalist, and advocate continues to be driven by a passion for storytelling and a commitment to making a difference in the world.
"She’s also one of the media giant’s most vocal, queer, feminist and Arab voices and everyday, she gets DMs from young people around the world, telling her how she makes them feel more like themselves."
- Jerico Mandybur
Girlboss Editorial Director
"Tania Safi quickly rose to international fame as a video producer forBuzzFeed, but you might not know that she was Sydney’s best filmmakerof 2012 and won an international film festival hosted by theUnited Nations. Her films have been screened around the world, includingthe U.S, Spain and Germany."
- Amanda Van Slyke
Flurt Magazine Editor in Chief
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Arab-Australian journalist and producer, Tan Safi, found their place in the world through story-telling after living in Tripoli when a civil war broke out in their early 20s.
Tan’s career has led them to produce 'Shway, Shway', highlighting change-makers, NGOs and individuals, “... who are doing something with close to nothing in Lebanon, because it’s stories like that we never heard about.”