SELECTED SHORTS
SHORT FilmS
Iranian cinema is renowned for its depth and creativity, despite cultural and political restrictions. Iranian short films, in particular, offer a unique insight into Iranian society, exploring universal themes through a unique cultural prism. Young Iranian filmmakers are emerging as powerful and innovative voices, often using context-imposed limitations as opportunities to experiment with new narrative forms and visual techniques.
A HANGMAN WAS CRYING
A film by Javad Joshanlou | Iran 2024 | 15 min. | Language: No Dialogue
In a context of relentless repression, a man works daily preparing the tools of violence and execution. His life is gray and monotonous, marked by an obsessive routine. His only companion is a small canary in a cage. Every evening, he comes home, consumes repetitive foods and watches television in front of his canary’s cage. One day, however, something changes: a film different from the others captures his attention, making him feel emotions that have now been forgotten. The following day, he is faced with the consequences of his work: a young girl has managed to escape the officers, and he sees with his own eyes the horror of violence behind a closed door. Overwhelmed by the weight of his actions and the awareness of the cruelty of the system he serves, the man makes a drastic decision: to end his life and free his beloved canary, in a final act of rebellion and hope.
Javad Joshanlou
Javad Joshanlou is an Iranian theater director, writer and filmmaker. He has produced and directed more than 30 documentaries. He has a background in theater and has collaborated for many years as a documentary maker with Iranian national television. In recent years, he has interrupted his collaboration with Iranian national TV to dedicate himself to making independent films. At the same time, he is engaged in the development of theater projects in Iran.
ARTISTIC CAST
REGIA &SCENEGGIATURA: JAVAD JOSHANLOU FOTOGRAFIA: AMIRKHOSRO SALEHI MONTAGGIO:JAVAD JOSHANLOU MUSICHE: KEYHAN ESMAIELI CAST: AREF ABBASI
Javad Joshanlou | Iran
BOLOUR
A film by Helia Behrooz | Iran 2024 | 16 min. | Language: Persian with Italian subtitles
In the summer of 2021, with the Taliban returning to power, the life of Bolour, a young 19-year-old music teacher, changes dramatically. Her family, fearing for her safety, urges her to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible. Despite the chaos and urgency of her escape, she Bolour refuses to leave without her precious Robab, a musical instrument passed down to her by her father and grandfather. This ancient and beloved instrument is not only a symbol of her roots and cultural heritage, but also represents her passion and hope for an uncertain future
Helia Behrooz
Helia Behrooz is an Iranian-American filmmaker. You studied computer science in Iran before moving to the United States. She recently graduated from CSUN Los Angeles with a degree in Film Production and is currently pursuing her studies in Business Administration. “A Morsel of Love” (2022, Iran) and “Bolour” (2023, Iran) are his first two directing and producing projects, made as student projects.
ARTISTIC CAST
REGIA & SCENEGGIATURA: HELIA BEHROOZ FOTOGRAFIA: FARID TAHMASEBI MONTAGGIO:NAVID TOHIDI MUSICA: MOSTAFA AKBARI MANJILI CAST: ROSHANA EBRAHIMI, ARASH AZARM, SARGOL LAVASAMI
Helia Behrooz | Iran
THE MANE
A film by Payam Shadnia | Iran 2024 | 15 min. | Without Dialogue
A prisoner girl arrives on the beach from the sea. A horse enters the water and the girl climbs onto it before fainting. Some people, who are playing and betting near the sea, notice the girl and start chasing her. A man offers her milk, but other men continue to follow her. A woman intervenes, dispersing them with a gun. The girl and her horse reach the end of the beach, with the gamblers in hot pursuit. In the end, the girl returns to the sea and the players resume their game.
Payam Shadnia
He was born in Bushehr, a picturesque port city in southern Iran, known for its rich history and cultural diversity. Seven years ago, he embarked on his journey into the world of cinema, starting with short films that quickly highlighted his talent and unique perspective. Through his films, he began to explore and depict the daily lives, struggles and triumphs of the people in his community. His early works stood out for their emotional depth and authentic storytelling, which he resonated with audiences and critics. Continuing to develop his art, he experimented with various genres and techniques, gradually refining his narrative style and approach. His dedication to filmmaking has established him as a promising and influential voice in the world of independent filmmaking.
ARTISTIC CAST
REGIA &SCENEGGIATURA: PAYMAN SHADNIA PRODUTTORE:PAYMAN SHADNIA CAST: FOROOZAN RABOOKI, BEHTASH KAMEI ZARI
Payam Shadnia | Iran
NOWHERE
A film by Erfan Parsapour | Iran 2024 | 13 min. | Language: Persian with Italian subtitles
In an unknown corner of the city, Peyman finds himself disoriented and uncertain of his location. The urgency increases as he races against time to find Mahsa, fearing that the situation will become even more complicated if they don’t reunite quickly.
Erfan Parsapour
Erfan Parsapour is an animation and theater director, screenwriter and director from Tehran, Iran. Born in 1989, he began painting and drawing cartoons as a child, winning several international awards. He has worked as a concept artist, character designer, animator and art director for various projects. His first film, “The Incomplete”, an animated short, received numerous awards at film festivals around the world. “Nowhere” is his second film and his first experience making live-action fiction films.
ARTISTIC CAST
REGIA &SCENEGGIATURA: ERFAN PARSAPOUR FOTOGRAFIA: KOOHYAAR KALARI MONTAGGIO:NAVID TOHIDI MUSICHE: MAZYAR YOUNESI CAST: SHABNAM GHORNANI, PASHA ROSTAMI
Erfan Parsapour | Iran
TORANJ
Un film di Tina Ahmadi Krol | Iran 2024 | 10 min. | Language: Persian with Italian subtitles
In the midst of the 2022 protests in Iran, Neda returns home with shotgun pellet wounds in her back. With professional medical help out of her reach, her mother, a carpet weaver, must tend to her wounds alone while she protects her youngest daughter from the horrors that are unfolding. Meanwhile, the police and the Basij arrive at their door with the intention of arresting Neda for her involvement in the protests against the regime.
Tina Ahmadi Kroll
Tina Ahmadi Król, born in 1996 in Tehran, Iran, graduated in Film Studies with a specialization in Screenwriting from the Faculty of Cinema and Theater of the Tehran University of Arts. She also holds a degree in Film Direction from the Warsaw Film School in Poland. With several years of experience in visual storytelling, she is always looking for ways to authentically represent women’s and minority issues on screen.
ARTISTIC CAST
REGIA & SCENEGGIATUEA: TINA AHMADI KROL PRODOTTO DA : TINA AHMADI KROL FOTOGRAFIA: AURA MELNIKAITE CAST: ALA RIANI
Tina Ahmadi Krol| Iran