A new short film premiering at TIFF 2026 takes on the podcasting manosphere through a unique lens. The Lion Does Not Concern Himself turns this idea into a disarmingly sweet rom-com about a gym coach choosing between chasing followers and earning someone’s trust.
The Lion Does Not Concern Himself Review: Zarrar Kahn Trades Horror For Heart, And It Works!
A new short film at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival takes on the podcasting manosphere in a lighthearted romantic comedy about finding your identity in a digital world. Acclaimed filmmaker Zarrar Kahn shifts from his feature surreal horror debut to a more lighthearted affair.
Kahn returns to TIFF after his debut feature film In Flames, a story about generational trauma within a Pakistani household that also incorporated surreal horror elements. Continuing his genre-bending take on storytelling, Kahn’s new film, The Lion Does Not Concern Himself, is a lighter story about a young man trying to find a space for himself in a digitally crowded world. Co-writer Mohammad Ali Hashmi stars as the endearing lead in a short film that is poignant and charming, while also tackling socially relevant topics.
What The Lion Does Not Concern Himself Is Really About
The Lion Does Not Concern Himself follows a meek fitness coach in a small Toronto gym who meets his first client. Often pushed around by his colleagues, this new client challenges him to be more self-assured, seeing himself through her eyes. As this new relationship blossoms, he has to reconcile the man he is with her with the one he was attempting to become before her: a toxic podcaster who figured out that the easy way to fame is to lean into the current climate of the podcasting manosphere.
Like a lot of chronically online young men, the coach has a podcast, with a small following of loyal subscribers, who he feels are the only ones interested in him. He soon realizes, as many others in the same space have, that the more inflammatory and divisive he is, the more his audience grows. It’s this push and pull between his desire to be accepted and actually being liked by this new girl, that creates the conflict in the story of The Lion Does Not Concern Himself.
A Short That Does Not Waste A Second Of Its Rom-Com Beats
As romantic comedies go, the short gives audiences the witty banter, a montage of their blossoming attraction, and a pretty sweet love story. Most effective is the visible transformation of the lead through her love, without losing himself. I’m always impressed when short stories can convey the setup, hook and conflict within the very small run-time.
Kahn is just as assured here, as he deftly navigates a story that is simpler and lighter than his feature debut, but just as confident. In Flames remains one of my TIFF favourites, which makes this all the more striking that The Lion Does Not Concern Himself comes from the same filmmaker. Cradling some serious socially relevant topics, such as the toxicity of gym-bro culture and that of the podcasting manosphere, within a simple story about young people falling in love is an achievement in and of itself.
Mohammad Ali Hashmi and Naomi Eidinger Anchor the Film’s Heart
Hashmi, who also co-wrote the film, draws on his own experience for the story, though he’s careful to note his character isn’t him, as he’s quick to clarify in our pre-TIFF interview. Onscreen, he plays a meek, unsure coach quietly bullied by the other trainers, until his new client allows him to be himself. The dynamic between the two is very endearing. In a way, it comments on how the true version of someone’s personality can reveal itself in the presence of the right person. Maybe even a soulmate, if you will. Despite his hesitation, I would love to see Hashmi as a more traditional romantic lead, given his unassuming yet heartwarming performance in this short.
Naomi Eidinger, as Jen, brings the assertiveness the coach lacks, and the imbalance is exactly what makes them work as a couple. Their chemistry is instantly palpable as the coach’s eagerness right away disarms her apprehension. Flipping their dynamic further, she pursues him, as he remains kind of clueless about her attraction. It’s a dynamic that grows organically and immediately, even within the truncated narrative runtime of the short film.
The Lion Does Not Concern Himself Review: Final Thoughts
Underneath the rom-com beats, the film is really about who we perform for the world and who we become in front of the person who actually sees us. It quietly depicts someone’s sense of identity in a society that is constantly telling us who we should be.
The Lion Does Not Concern Himself screens as part of TIFF’s Short Cuts Programme 02, premiering September 11, 2026.
What did you think of Kahn and Hashmi’s take on identity in the digital age? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and follow me at @theshahshahid on X/Instagram for more festival coverage and reviews.
