Hammad Zaidi, a disabled kid with a rail-thin left arm, a useless hand, and a cowboy limp, watched a documentary on the clubbing of harp seals. All snow-white pups perished except for one called “The Lonely Seal.” The name stuck, as did Hammad’s intent to make the world a better place. A few decades and several charitable endeavors later, from limping door-to-door to wrangle donations for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in the 1970s to donating to his alma mater UCLA for 30 years and several multiple-year contributions to film festivals, including Slamdance, SXSW, Nashville, and the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee – Hammad’s mission has always been to do his part in making to the world a better place to live.
Lonely Seal began in September of 1992, when Hammad started to develop feature films. He first optioned the film rights to the legal thriller novel,”Local Rules,” by Jay Brandon, in October of 1994. Zaidi developed the film with fellow producer Chris Olsen.
Hammad started judging festivals with Flickerfest in Bondi Beach, Australia, in 1997, a timeless experience where he and his fellow judges would dive into the ocean between screenings. From there, Hammad became a Judge, World Cinema Screener, Filmmaker Advisor, Panelist, Screenwriting Contest Founder, Program Curator, and Advisory Board Member at several film festivals, including Sundance, Slamdance, SXSW, and Nashville.
Hammad Zaidi executive produced his first feature film in 1998; The LaMastas, written and directed by award-winning author Paul Griffin.
In 2005, Hammad launched Lonely Seal Releasing, a international film distribution and sales company that attends significant film markets and festivals to buy and sell cinema. The move made Hammad one of about 1,200 Priority Content Buyers worldwide.
In 2018, Hammad started the Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay, and Music Festival, the home of “Stories Aching To Be Told,” hosted at the Regent Theatre, a 456-seat visually and acoustically stunning gem located in Arlington, Massachusetts (near Boston). We are more than just an event; we are a supportive community that champions the creative journey throughout the year. We invite all creators to connect with us beyond the festival dates. Our mission is to nurture your growth and success both in the moment and for a lifetime. We embrace diversity, women’s voices, and films about disabilities, and we welcome stories from all genres. We LOVE premieres, so if you’re interested in premiering at Lonely Seal, we have a heightened interest in showcasing your work. Lonely Seal is a festival you won’t forget attending, because you won’t be joining a crowd; you’ll be joining a family.
Lonely Seal Streaming is targeted to launch in early 2026.
Lonely Seal began in September of 1992, when Hammad started to develop feature films. He first optioned the film rights to the legal thriller novel,”Local Rules,” by Jay Brandon, in October of 1994. Zaidi developed the film with fellow producer Chris Olsen. 
