Doin’ It, a new comedy directed and co-written by Sara Zandieh '11, had its theatrical release on September 19, 2025. The film follows the life of Maya, played by Lilly Singh, who works as a substitute teacher while developing an app for teens. Through her side-job, this 30-year-old virgin finds herself teaching sex education.
An award-winning filmmaker and Fullbright Scholar, Zandieh finds delight in putting her nose to the grindstone. In an interview with the Columbia Daily Spectator, she shared, “The way I’ve always looked at it is as long as I’m working and getting to direct and developing muscle, I’m becoming a better filmmaker.”
She also spoke highly about the personal joy she feels from collaboration. Embodying the spirit of the Columbia MFA Film program, she shared, “So much of what makes filmmaking fun is getting to work with great minds and interesting people. Getting to work with good people is definitely the best part, and something I hope to continue.”
This commitment to collaboration has been decidedly continued through Doin’ It, where Zandieh has written the script with late night TV star Lilly Singh and Neel Patel. “It was so exciting for me to make this movie with Lilly because she is an ideal leading lady," Zandieh told Cherry Picks after the film's world premiere at South by Southwest 2024. "She’s both funny and diverse and has a lot of heart.”
Sara Zandieh is an Iranian-American filmmaker based in LA. She holds an MFA in film writing and directing from Columbia University’s School of Arts. Her first short film, The Pool Party, won a Jury Award at the Tribeca Film Festival, Best Short Film at Cinequest, and played at film festivals worldwide. Her latest short, Reza Hassani Goes to the Mall, premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, won the Focus Features Best Film Award at the Columbia University Film Festival, and Best Short at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Zandieh is a recipient of the Fulbright Grant for filmmaking, the La Fémis director’s workshop, and a MacDowell fellowship.
