Jon Stewart premieres first film, Rosewater, at TIFF 2014

Jon Stewart his revealing his directorial debut Monday night, laying the dramaRosewaterbefore the crowds and critics at theToronto International Film Festival.

• Jon Stewart taking break from Daily Show
• PHOTOS|TIFF 2014: Highlights from Day 4

The film is the dramatized true story of Iranian-Canadian journalistMaziar Bahari and the five harrowing months he spent behind bars inTehran's Evin prison.

First concern: Do no harm

The brutal detention followed Bahari'sappearance onStewart's satirical news program The Daily Show. The appearance itself appears to have drawn the ire of the Iranianauthorities and, in an interview with CBC News,Stewart said he panicked when he found out about the arrest.

"This was at a time of a crackdown," by the Iranian governmentin 2009, said the comedian.

"We were aware that there were thousands that were being arrested," he said, adding that the first concern, when having guests on The Daily Show, is to "do no harm."

Despite the ties to his show, Stewart says Bahari has disabused him of responsibility. The political satirist points to many absurd excuses the Iranian authorities used to take Bahari in.

"Theyalso spent a lot of time asking about Anton Chekhov andPaulyShore," quipped Stewart.

Stewart is no Stanley Kubrick

The famed comedian and the political activistbonded over a shared desire to turnBahari'sbookThen They Came For Meinto a feature film.

• AUDIO |JournalistMaziarBahari: They Came For Me

The 2011 memoir details the intensephysical and psychological torture Bahari endured in prison,and paints his rosewater-scentedcaptors as prisoners as well.

It's animportant and emotional tale to entrust to a man best-known for his late-night comedictakedowns, butBaharihad no problem handing his life story over to the first-time filmmaker.

"Jon Stewart is not Stanley Kubrick," Bahari told CBC News. "[But] Jon is a very intelligent person and I knew that, even if he failed miserably, his failures would be much better than the best work of many other people."

• VIDEO| Jon Stewart makes his directorial debut

Baharireflects on finding humour in his horrific experience in the video above.

Tune into The NationalMonday night when CBC Arts reporter Eli Glasnerlooks at thefriendship that blossomed between Stewart andBahari during filming,

Watch for Wendy Mesley'sfeature interview with Jon Stewart when the film goes into wide release on Nov. 7.