Iranian Films Mark Resurgent Presence in Global Festival Circuits

Date: 13 October 2025 - 21:28

News ID: ۱۴۴۵۹۷

TEHRAN -- Sina Emami’s latest feature, Pardeh Akhar (The Last Act), marks a notable foray into the horror genre, but one deeply rooted in social critique.

Premiering with the ambition of entering the international festival circuit, the film offers a chilling meditation on the fraught conditions confronting Iranian filmmakers and students of cinema.

Set against the crumbling backdrop of antiquated rehearsal halls and makeshift studio spaces—many situated in dilapidated, unsafe urban districts—Pardeh Akhar brings into sharp focus the systemic neglect that plagues much of Iran’s artistic infrastructure.

Emami, whose previous works like Aso and Hamin Hala (Right Now) navigated themes of illness and economic hardship, extends his socially conscious lens here into the realm of genre cinema.

Through a cast featuring Karim Khodadadi, Elyas Bahrami, and Hamid Abiri among others, the film dramatizes not only physical but existential risks faced by those forging creative paths amid material scarcity and institutional invisibility.

Behind the camera, a collaborative team including cinematographer Arash Gholami and sound designer Arash Hojqani helps craft an unsettling atmosphere that mirrors the precarious reality the narrative inhabits.

With contributions from makeup artist Hanieh Karimi and production manager Navid Palizgar, Pardeh Akhar is as much a product of a committed creative community as its onscreen story suggests.

Fish on the Readies for

Tajikistan Premiere

Meanwhile, Fish on the Hook, a poignant Iranian-Tajik co-production directed by Mohiuddin Mozaffar, continues to garner international acclaim.

Fresh from securing the Special Jury Prize at the 37th International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Iran, the film now competes in the feature-length category at Tajikistan’s burgeoning Taj Samon Film Festival, scheduled for mid-October 2025.

Anchored by compelling performances from Tajik stars Khurshid Mustafayev and Sayora Safarova, Fish on the Hook unfolds a lyrical narrative about freedom and agency, challenging the metaphor of captivity through its titular imagery.

Notably, the film introduces a gifted adolescent actor selected from a rigorous nationwide search through orphanages—an evocative gesture underscoring the film’s thematic engagement with marginalized youth.

Following a high-profile Tehran premiere attended by key cultural figures and government officials, Fish on the Hook made its international debut in the Panorama section of the 30th Schlingel Festival in Germany, positioning itself as a key cultural export bridging Iran and Central Asia.

While predominantly Tajik in production, post-production processes—editing, sound design, scoring, color grading—benefited from Iranian artistic expertise, exemplifying a transnational creative collaboration that enriches the film’s cultural texture.

Orosi Sets Stage at 59th

Hof International Film Festival

The short film Orosi, a cross-cultural venture between Iran and Spain directed by Muhammad Hormozi, has been selected for competition at the prestigious 59th Hof International Film Festival in Germany.

Recognized as a crucial platform for discovering emerging cinematic voices—ranking just behind Berlinale in its significance for German-speaking markets—Hof offers Orpsi a vital stage for its international debut from October 21–26, 2025.

Featuring a talented ensemble including Arezoo Tajnia, Hasan Asgari, and Hamed Baraghani, Orosi represents a tightly knit collaboration with international reach.

Distributed globally by Negar Film, the short is positioned to attract the attention of cinephiles and industry insiders alike, further cementing the global resonance of Iranian independent cinema.