Hooman Khalili

Hooman Khalili is an Iranian‑born visual artist, filmmaker, and creative director based in the San Francisco Bay Area whose current work centers on large‑scale murals about Iran, Israel, and the struggle of Iranian women. San Francisco–based radio personality, filmmaker, and mural artist who spent 21 years on the “Sarah and Vinnie” Morning Show on Alice Radio 97.3 FM (CBS Radio) in the Bay Area. Served as phone screener, on-air movie critic, and celebrity interviewer, conducting red-carpet and press junket interviews for major events including the Grammys, MTV Video Music Awards, Sundance Film Festival, Super Bowl 50, and CBS’s fall TV lineups. Has interviewed dozens of A‑list figures including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Donald Trump, Tom Hanks, Robert Downey Jr., Harrison Ford, Jerry Seinfeld, George Lucas, Maroon 5, 50 Cent, and was the last person to interview Hunter S. Thompson before his death. Collaborated with all major Hollywood studios on the promotion of more than 1,000 films over two decades, building deep relationships across the entertainment industry. Appeared as a voice actor in Pixar’s “Cars,” expanding his reach from radio into animated film. Wrote, directed, and shot “Olive,” the first full-length feature film captured entirely on a cell phone (Nokia N8), which qualified for Academy Award consideration and stars two-time Oscar nominee Gena Rowlands with original songs by Dolly Parton. Created the number-one most-viewed nonpartisan “get out the vote” video for U.S. youth in the 2008 presidential election, earning 5.1 million YouTube views and a place in the Museum of Radio and Television in New York. Frequent speaker and presenter at major festivals and conferences, including Sundance, SXSW, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mill Valley, LA Film Fest, SF Film Fest, Macworld, the Disposable Film Festival in Washington, D.C., and the Ethiopia Film Festival. Global humanitarian and mission worker who has served in South Africa, Costa Rica, Armenia, Bali, Hong Kong, South Korea, Mexico, Germany, Greece, Uganda, South Sudan, and long-term on the streets of San Francisco with people experiencing homelessness. Former choir director at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in San Francisco and current creative volunteer who makes short movies with terminally ill children battling cancer, using storytelling to bring joy and spark imagination. Conceptualized and leads an international “mural diplomacy” project, designing and installing murals in Israel and the United States to draw attention to the Iranian people’s fight for freedom, including multiple works displayed in Jerusalem. Recognized as a multifaceted creative force whose career spans radio, film, visual art, and humanitarian service, with a consistent focus on amplifying underrepresented voices and causes.