Tehran Short Film Festival in Toronto

Tehran Short Film Festival runs annually in Tehran, Iran. This year, with the country-wide protests against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the filmmakers boycotted the festival. While it was a courageous gesture in support of other Iranians who are taking into the streets, this decision deprived the filmmakers from being seen and being appreciated by the audience. The Diaspora Film Festival decided to provide these filmmakers with a platform to showcase their works to a broader and more diverse audience. We decided to call this program Tehran Short Film Festival in Toronto!

 

Tuesday, December 13, 6:30PM, Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave

A Girl from Parsian, Parinaz Hashemi, Iran, Documentary, 2019, 20 min
A few women from a small southern town make efforts to achieve their prohibited rights.
Parinaz Hashemi is an independent filmmaker with more than 20 years of experience in cinema and television.

 

Colorful Dreams, Parinaz Hashemi, Iran, Documentary, 2020, 20 min
In a rural area of Baluchestan live people who believe they can achive their dreams if they do their best to improve the living conditions for themselves and others. Parinaz Hashemi is an independent filmmaker with more than 20 years of experience in cinema and television.

Don’t Remove the Soil, Navid Mihandoost, Iran, 2022, Fiction, 15 min
A man is sentenced to jail for his social activities. His girlfriend promises him to send messages to his cellphone that she keeps with herself. The plan is for him to read them after he is released. Navid Mihandoost is a journalist, screenwriter, and director. He has been sentenced to jail for making a documentary about Masih Alinejad, an exiled human rights activist living in the US.

Lefthanded, Nasrin Mohammadpour, Iran, Fiction, 2021, 15 min
When working in a slaughterhouse, Maryam, a single mother, decides to cut her right hand to receive compensation from the insurance company, but things don’t go as planned. Nasrin Mohammadpour studied film and sociology and holds a master’s degree in feminist studies. Her interests are in the areas of women’s and children’s rights. Lefthanded is her debut film.

The Ring, Roham Rasouli, Iran, Fiction, 2022, 6 min
A young man loses his pregnant wife during the Iran-Iraq war. Many years later, he is still occupied with her memories. Roham Rasouli is a gradute of the Iranian Youth Cinema Society, The Ring is his debut short.

Katvoman, Hadi Sheibani, Iran/India, 2022, 8 min
Mother and son are playing a Catwoman-Batman game before the father comes back. Sound of screams from next door suggests the husband is again beating the wife. It’s time for the father to play a role in the game. Hadi Sheibani is a film editor and the first Iranian to be awarded a scholarship at the Asian Film Academy in 2019. Katvoman is his first short inspired by MeToo movement.

Tuesday, December 13, 8:30PM, Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave

Leber-Chromosome 17, Shervineh Didandeh, Iran, Fiction, 2022, 20 min
Yaghma is losing her sight and soon will be blind. She doubts whether she should tell the truth to her husband. Shervineh Didandeh has made three other shorts to her credit: Inception (2010), A Baby with Red Socks (2015), and One Canary One Crow (2015).

Cortisol, Danial Noorvash, Iran, Fiction, 2022, 20 min
A man attends to the lawn of a rich house recognises the owner as the one who ruined his life. Danial Noorvash is a film, TV, and stage actor. Cortisol is his debut film.

All Qualified Men, Atoosa Moshashaee, Canada, Fiction, 2022, 14 min
A woman advertises to hire a male partner to help her with house work and take care of children. Atoosa Moshashaee is a Toronto-based independent filmmaker.

Something Black, Rayhane Kavosh, Iran, Animation, 2022, 7 min
What is that? Where did it come from? What’s happening? Sometimes something meaningless can cause worry and confusion.
Winner of the Best Director award from the International Children’s Festival, Reyhane Kavosh is an animator with a number of accoladed works to her credit.

Boat No. 5, Rayhane Kavosh, Iran, Animation, 2021, 7 min
A young girl enjoys spending time with her parents boating on a lake, but becomes heartbroken when they decide to move to the city. Winner of the Best Director award from the International Children’s Festival, Reyhane Kavosh is an animator with a number of accoladed works to her credit.

 

I Didn’t Look Either, Rayhane Kavosh, Animation, Iran, 8 min
Two boys and a girl hit a gardener when racing. The flower pots break and flowers are scattered around. Winner of the Best Director award from the International Children’s Festival, Reyhane Kavosh is an animator with a number of accoladed works to her credit.

Philadelphia Iran Afghanistan, Zardosht Afshari, USA, documentary, 2020, 10 min.
A conversation between the filmmaker and an Afghan refugee on migration challenges. Zardosht Afshari is and Iranian-American filmmaker. He has made several short films in Iran and the USA.

 

Wednesday, December 14, 6:30PM, Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave

Roya, Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, Iran, 2022, 22 min
A young Afghan couple are trying to cross borders to get to Europe. Mohammad Reza Mohammadi is a graduate of the Iranian Youth Cinema Society. Roya is his second short film after Nazpari.

Fashion, Fardin Ansari, Iran, Fiction, 2018, 22 min
An underground fashion show in Tehran receives an unusual twist. Fardin Ansari is an independent filmmaker based in Tehran. His shorts include Fashion and Lady.

Lady, Fardin Ansari, Iran, Fiction, 2022, 15 min
After Macbeth murdered the king, Lady Macbeth disappeared. Now she is back to face Macbeth. She regrets her past and intends to help Macbeth put an end to the killings. She is unaware of Macbeth’s plan for her. Fardin Ansari is an independent filmmaker based in Tehran. His shorts include Fashion and Lady.

Ivory Beach, Ali Hamid-nezhad, Iran, Fiction, 2022, 12 min
Two friends go on a treasure hunting trip, but fate plays a different role for them.

Blackout, Reza Didar, Iran, Fiction, 2019, 11 min
A brother and sister are taking care of their father who is on a life support equipment. The brother can not pay the electricity bill. The life of their father is in danger. Reza Didar is an Afghan Iranian filmmaker. He holds a MA degree in cinema from Tehran University. He has made four short films.