ABOUT FAREH MALIK

Bio

Fareh Malik is a poet, author, and spoken word performer based in the GTA, Ontario. At the age of 17, Farehβ€”thirsty with a desire to bring about dialogue for changeβ€”began performing as a storyteller and spoken word poet at his high school. He went on to finish his degrees at McMaster University in Hamilton, where he remained to establish his writing practice, as well as the hip-hop crews VIE Division and RXD. He began exploring literature in 2020 and hasn’t looked back.

Fareh was named the 2022 RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award winner, the winner of the October Project Poetry Prize, and the 2023 winner of the Austin Clarke Prize for Literary Excellence. Fareh's debut book Streams that Lead Somewhere was published by Mawenzi House Publishers and won the Hamilton Literary Award for Poetry. Fareh was named a finalist for the 2021 Best of the Net anthology, the 2024 and 2026 ARC Poem of the Year, the 2023 & 2025 TWUC Prose Competitions, and the 2024 National Magazine Awards. His work was also included in Best Canadian Poetry 2025. He has had the privilege of working with writers like Omar El Akkad, Danez Smith, Hanif Abdurraqib, Safia Elhillo, and more. Fareh is currently working on his second book and exciting new projects.

Fareh Malik’s book purchase links are available in the Store section of the site.

Awards

2024 & 2026 ARC Poem of the Year (Finalist)

2024 Tin House Fellow & 2026 McCormack Writing Center Scholar

2025 TWUC Short Prose Competition (Finalist)

2025 Best Canadian Poetry

2024 National Magazine Award - Poetry (Nominee)

2023 Austin Clarke Prize in Literary Excellence - Poetry

2023 Hamilton Literary Award - Poetry

2023 TWUC Short Prose Competition (Finalist)

2022 RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award

2022 Gerald Lampert Memorial Award (Longlist)

2022 October Project Poetry Award

2022 Colourism Healing Editor’s Choice Award

2022 OAC Chalmers Arts Fellow

2021 Best of the Net finalist

2021 Shirley Elford Prize

2021 Garden Project Prize

2020 MH Canada Poetry Contest - 1st Place

Thank you for having me and the film @formvancouver + some bonus Vancouver pics
Thank you for having me and the film @formvancouver + some bonus Vancouver pics
Lately, writing and performing has been a dream come true. Before all that, though, there are a couple truths to explore here: the first is that basketball was my first love; the second is that The Crown Ain’t Worth Much by @nifmuhammad was a f
Lately, writing and performing has been a dream come true. Before all that, though, there are a couple truths to explore here: the first is that basketball was my first love; the second is that The Crown Ain’t Worth Much by @nifmuhammad was a foundational book for me— it was one of the ones that got me into actually writing. So, knowing this, being able to open for Hanif and his new book on basketball and ascension, for @furqanamohamed , and for this evening was an incredible thing. Thank you so much for having me in the space @anotherstorybookshop @lulalounge . Here’s to keeping the dribble alive πŸ€
Some really cool accolades and selections lately for our short film SURVIVING SILENCE πŸ™ŒπŸ½ You can catch the film screening in Vancouver at @formvancouver and @vaffvancouver this November, and I’ll be there too ✈️ DATES TBA! Also we were a sem
Some really cool accolades and selections lately for our short film SURVIVING SILENCE πŸ™ŒπŸ½ You can catch the film screening in Vancouver at @formvancouver and @vaffvancouver this November, and I’ll be there too ✈️ DATES TBA! Also we were a semi-finalist at the Best Shorts Fest πŸ‘€ Still so stoked that the work I got to do with @iandresimon @safaali_ and the whole cast is getting this attention; incredibly appreciative for this group, and excited to see what comes next ❀️
This is the first anthology I’ve gotten to be a part of, and for it to be a collection of the best Canadian poems of the year— I’m honoured. So grateful to have my work held in the midst of these other amazing writers, and excited f
This is the first anthology I’ve gotten to be a part of, and for it to be a collection of the best Canadian poems of the year— I’m honoured. So grateful to have my work held in the midst of these other amazing writers, and excited for PUFWAD (the poem) to be a part of this legacy. Thank you so much @biblioasis_books for the inclusion, and @ex_puritan @nakinisowin for awarding this piece. Please go buy yourself a copy and support (there’s a lil bonus write up of the inspiration behind PUFWAD) πŸ˜‰
So, this happened. Surviving Silence was selected as the Winner of the Film Forward showcase at the Eye2eye International Film Festival πŸ™ŒπŸ½ so proud to have worked on this alongside the insanely talented @iandresimon @safaali_ and the whole cast and
So, this happened. Surviving Silence was selected as the Winner of the Film Forward showcase at the Eye2eye International Film Festival πŸ™ŒπŸ½ so proud to have worked on this alongside the insanely talented @iandresimon @safaali_ and the whole cast and crew. Huge shout out to @filmaccessnorthumberland @hamartscouncil for allowing this film to exist and be put on screen. We’re gonna keep movin’!!
It’s an honour to be selected for Best Canadian Poetry 2025 🫢🏽 it still baffles and warms me that my work is being celebrated and loved like it has been. It means the world to me that these thoughts and feelings are being cared for not just b
It’s an honour to be selected for Best Canadian Poetry 2025 🫢🏽 it still baffles and warms me that my work is being celebrated and loved like it has been. It means the world to me that these thoughts and feelings are being cared for not just by me, but by an entire community. It would mean a lot to me if you gave PUFWAD a read in the next slide. πŸ‰β€οΈ
12/15/2023 There was a time that I was finding it immensely difficult, both emotionally and academically, to pursue a lifelong attempt at being a doctor. A paediatrician, to be specific. It stopped making sense to me, and I think the only part of it
12/15/2023 There was a time that I was finding it immensely difficult, both emotionally and academically, to pursue a lifelong attempt at being a doctor. A paediatrician, to be specific. It stopped making sense to me, and I think the only part of it that I clung on to was the ability to help others. If you fast forward to today, I’m doing something that I feel is radically different, but still firmly planted in helping others. I always said that if my work could resonate with human beings—if my stories could help others cope/endure/love/thrive/hope—then I was doing something right for the world. I wake up this Jummah and realize that I have won two amazing honours this week: The 2023 Hamilton Literary Award for Poetry, and the 2023 Austin Clarke Prize (Ω±Ω„Ω’Ψ­ΩŽΩ…Ω’Ψ―ΩΩ„ΩΩ„ΩŽΩ‘Ω°Ω‡Ω). It makes me immensely happy that the readers of my work can find something in it to love. I love it, too. When I look back on what I’ve accomplished and who I’ve helped, I’ll remember today. It’s a good mission to be on. It’s one I can dedicate myself to. Thank you so much to all of those who were involved: @ex_puritan @nakinisowin @mawenzihouse @hamiltonlibrary @hamartscouncil @wolsakandwynn
October 20th. Westdale Theatre. “Surviving Silence”. Be there. πŸ‘ŠπŸ½
VANCOUVER!! πŸ“£ I am doing a reading with @massyartssociety on AUGUST 27 🫢🏽 come out and see me, @brandonwintpoet @hasan.namir and more. It’s gonna be a great night of literature so definitely come out. Also come see me since I’m not her
VANCOUVER!! πŸ“£ I am doing a reading with @massyartssociety on AUGUST 27 🫢🏽 come out and see me, @brandonwintpoet @hasan.namir and more. It’s gonna be a great night of literature so definitely come out. Also come see me since I’m not here much longer πŸ₯Ή
Big thanks to @malahatreview and @manahilbanduk for the review on Streams. If you haven’t bought your copy yet, you can get on that ASAP via my site in my bio. If you read, rate, or review, it is greatly appreciated. ❀️
Big thanks to @malahatreview and @manahilbanduk for the review on Streams. If you haven’t bought your copy yet, you can get on that ASAP via my site in my bio. If you read, rate, or review, it is greatly appreciated. ❀️
Thank you for having me and the film @formvancouver + some bonus Vancouver pics Lately, writing and performing has been a dream come true. Before all that, though, there are a couple truths to explore here: the first is that basketball was my first love; the second is that The Crown Ain’t Worth Much by @nifmuhammad was a f Some really cool accolades and selections lately for our short film SURVIVING SILENCE πŸ™ŒπŸ½ You can catch the film screening in Vancouver at @formvancouver and @vaffvancouver this November, and I’ll be there too ✈️ DATES TBA! Also we were a sem This is the first anthology I’ve gotten to be a part of, and for it to be a collection of the best Canadian poems of the year— I’m honoured. So grateful to have my work held in the midst of these other amazing writers, and excited f So, this happened. Surviving Silence was selected as the Winner of the Film Forward showcase at the Eye2eye International Film Festival πŸ™ŒπŸ½ so proud to have worked on this alongside the insanely talented @iandresimon @safaali_ and the whole cast and It’s an honour to be selected for Best Canadian Poetry 2025 🫢🏽 it still baffles and warms me that my work is being celebrated and loved like it has been. It means the world to me that these thoughts and feelings are being cared for not just b 12/15/2023 There was a time that I was finding it immensely difficult, both emotionally and academically, to pursue a lifelong attempt at being a doctor. A paediatrician, to be specific. It stopped making sense to me, and I think the only part of it
October 20th. Westdale Theatre. “Surviving Silence”. Be there. πŸ‘ŠπŸ½
VANCOUVER!! πŸ“£ I am doing a reading with @massyartssociety on AUGUST 27 🫢🏽 come out and see me, @brandonwintpoet @hasan.namir and more. It’s gonna be a great night of literature so definitely come out. Also come see me since I’m not her Big thanks to @malahatreview and @manahilbanduk for the review on Streams. If you haven’t bought your copy yet, you can get on that ASAP via my site in my bio. If you read, rate, or review, it is greatly appreciated. ❀️