Woman, Life, Freedom Festival
About the Festival
Following the governmental murder of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini and inspired by its progressive ideals of the Iranian people’s uprising, the Association of Iranian Film and Theatre Artists Abroad has begun its activities to extend these ideals within the international film and theatre community. The inaugural “Woman, Life, Freedom” Festival aims to showcase creative works that highlight women’s struggles and achievements, promote freedom of expression, support gender equality, and emphasize liberation. Inspired by the recent Iranian women’s movement against oppression, the Association of Iranian Film and Theatre Artists Abroad (AIFTAA) is hosting this festival to amplify the voice of this struggle beyond the border of Iran.
Director’s Statement
As an independent filmmaker and one of the founding members, I participated over the past two years with our association to issue a lot of statements condemning the abuses of power by the Iranian regime. Although these were good steps, I felt our words were not enough. I felt an urgent need for an action to support and uplift the rights of women in Iran, and around the world. In essence, the “Women, Life Freedom” movement is seeking to overcome all hierarchies and discrimination to find justice and equality, including in the areas of religion, race, gender, and socio-economics. These ideas came together in my mind to create the vision for the “Woman, Life, Freedom” Film Festival.
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Jury for 2024
Marjane Satrapi
Marjane Satrapi is an acclaimed Iranian-French graphic novelist, filmmaker, and illustrator, best known for her autobiographical graphic novel “Persepolis”.
She grew up during the tumultuous period of the Iranian Revolution, experiences she vividly depicted in “Persepolis”, which was later adapted into an award-winning animated film co-directed by Satrapi herself.
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MAIRI CAMERON
She is an AACTA nominated director of film and television and head of the Australian Directors Guild’s Queensland Chapter. Her psychological thriller The Second was the first Stan Originals feature film produced in Australia.
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Maryam Keshavarz
Maryam Keshavarz is an internationally acclaimed Iranian-American writer, director, and producer. Her third feature, THE PERSIAN VERSION, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2023, where it won the U.S. Dramatic Competition Audience Award …
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Maryam Palizban
Theatre scholar, writer, actress and director. The tensions between ‚religion and art‘, cultural theory of modern Islam‘ and ‚performativity and textuality‘ are among the major themes of her multilingual publications, lectures and teaching activities.
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Pooya Mohseni
Pooya Mohseni is a multi award-winning Iranian American actor, writer, filmmaker and transgender activist. Her stage credits include an obie win in the Pulitzer and Obie winning play English (Atlantic Theater Company, The Old Globe Theater), …
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Ashkan Khatibi
An award-winning Iranian artist and acting tutor, specializing in theatre, screen acting, and musical theatre, he has built a distinguished career in the performing arts. With a background in Theatre spans acting, directing, and producing.
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Pegah Ahangarani
Pegah Ahangarani is an Iranian Artist, known for her works as a Documentary filmmaker, Actress, and Musician. She has directed 10 movies and acted in over 40 feature films, which have been screened at renowned festivals worldwide.
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Who We Are:
We are a global community of film and theatre artists who originally hailed from Iran. Due to restrictions on creative expression in our homeland, we now live and work around the world. Our experiences have strengthened our resolve to support artists and individuals whose freedoms and rights have been compromised. United by the powerful principles of “Woman, Life, Freedom,” we are dedicated to advocating for those who face challenges in expressing their artistry and pursuing equality.
Festival Goals:
1. We aim to build greater support among global film artists for the movement of ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ (Persian: Zan, Zendegi, Azadi; Kurdish: Jin, Jiyan, Azadi).
2. Our goal is to amplify the voices of the marginalized until our shared values of freedom and equality are realized.
Screening Locations
Opening Ceremony of the Festival
16 September 2024, SAE Theater, Brisbane Jane St, West End QLD 4101, Australia
- 16 September 2024, Columbia College, Screening Room #3101104 South Wabash Ave Chicago, IL, United States
- 17 September 2024, L’Arlequin, 76 Rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris- France
- 18 September 2024, Wayfarer Theaters, 1850 2nd Street Highland Park, Illinois 60035 , United States
- 20 September 2024, Cinema DeSeve, Montréal, Canada
- 20 September 2024, Sävja Kulturhus, Västgötaresan 133, Uppsala, Sweden
Closing Ceremony of the Film Festival
21 September 2024, Zita Folkets Bio, Birger Jarlsgatan 37, Stockholm, Sweden
Documentary
Award Nominees
Annie Londonderry
Directed by Erica Yvonne Terenziani, Italy, 15:00
GIRLS: WOMEN TOO EARLY
Directed by Paolo Patruno,Cameroon, 13:29
SHURA
Directed by David Damian Figueroa, Kayvon Derak Shanian, United States, 26:30 min
the Shadow Yearning To Fly
Directed by Elham Ahmadi, Iran, 54 min
The Women Of Nowhere
Directed by Blnd Ali Aziz, Iraq, 20:09 min
They See Red
Directed by Emily Boyle, Aurélie Monnier, Switzerland, 25:00 min
Threads of Resilience
Directed by Javed Hussain, Pakistan, 8:27 min
Animation
Award Nominees
Baraye
Directed by Shabnam Adiban, Iran, 2:14 min
BORNFREE
Directed by Shikha Patel, United States, 2:00 min
Girls are made to make love
Directed by Jeanne Paturle, Cécile Rousset, Jeanne Drouet, France, 15:49 min
NON
Directed by BARDAUD Camille, ZHANG Tianying, NIU Xiaoning, SIBILLE Julie, NIU Yanfeng, France, 4:53 min
Pomegranate
Directed by Livvy Seabrook-Wilkins, United Kingdom, 2:31 min
The Black Pomegranate
Directed by Ali Zare Ghanatnowi, France, 14:17 min
The Nature of the River
Directed by Agnieszka Waszczeniuk, Poland, 7:44 min
Experimental
Award Nominees
gap
Directed by Elena Muchnaya, Russian Federation, 18:15
Goddess Memory
Directed by Belle Asher, Israel, 3:44 min
Los Sueños – Videodanza –
Directed by María Fernanda Vallejos, Argentina, 7:00
SHAME
Directed by Joo Joostberens, Poland, 1:14 min
The Black Bubble
Directed by Behnam Hojati, Iran, 15:00 min
The Sunset of Green Snails
Directed by Mohammad Hasani, Iran, 9:00 min
The unveiled woman
Directed by Gaia Pulliero, Italy, 2:55 min
Narative
Award Nominees
Alicia
Directed by Tania Claudia Castillo, Mexico, 12:00 min
Antigone
Directed by Peyman Rajabi, Iran, 19:33 min
Claimant
Directed by Nadereh Sadat Serki, Iran, 20:00 min
Morning or Morning
Directed by Alexey Kazakov, Kazakhstan, 15:00 min
Omayma
Directed by Fabio Schifilliti, Italy, 15:00 min
SENTENCE
Directed by Pastour Clara, France, 13:14 min
The Apple
Directed by Mehmet Acaruk, Turkey, 15:00 min
AWARD WINNERS
Awards were given for the best works in each category, including:
Special Jury Award for the best film (Festival Honorary Award, and cash prize)
“The Shadow Yearning To Fly” Directed by Elham Ahmadi (Iran)
Best Documentary (Festival Honorary Award)
“SHURA”
Directed by David Damian Figueroa,
Kayvon Derak Shanian (USA)
Best Experimental (Festival Honorary Award)
“Los Sueños – Videodanza ”
Directed by María Fernanda Vallejos (Argentina)
Best Animation (Festival Honorary Award)
“The Nature of the River”
Directed by Agnieszka Waszczeniuk (Poland)
Best narrative Film (Festival Honorary Award)
“Claimant”
Directed by Nadereh Sadat Serki (Iran)
We look forward to seeing you at the “Woman, Life, Freedom” Festival!
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