11 januari
Asian Movie Night: Beyond Borders
Composed of innovative shorts
by Iranian artists
Noon (Roshanak Roshan, 2024)
EN For the winter edition, Asian Movie Night comes back with an exciting shorts programme ‘Beyond Borders’ curated by Marzieh Rasekh and Baran Sedighian! ‘Beyond Borders’ explores diverse, untold stories from Iran, moving beyond the narrow portrayals of the country as either a victim or villain and offering a more joyful, self-affirming and creative view. Through films, workshops and talks, the programme sheds light on the unique narrative and visual expressions of Iranian creators who, despite the challenging political and social landscapes, continue to use art to advocate for social justice and facilitate intercultural dialogue and coalitional thinking.
The film selection explores serious themes like war, trauma, migration and women's rights while deploying humour, imagination, personal experiences and childhood memories to reflect on these issues, thus, making it universally relatable. Through innovative techniques like stop-motion and mixed media, these films push the boundaries of visual storytelling and offer a fresh perspective on Iranian life, beyond the headlines and borders.
Join us for a Q&A with artist Sara Rajaei after the screening!
Guest curator – Marzieh Rasekh: A talented 2D animator/Illustrator from Iran, Marzieh combines traditional animation styles with digital techniques. Her animations Let’s Play (2024) and More (2017) have received nominations at various festivals, alongside her commercial projects in advertising.
Guest curator – Baran Sedighian: An Iranian filmmaker and producer, Baran immigrated to the Netherlands in 2022 to pursue her second Master's in Animation. Her graduation animation, The Deer, has been selected for multiple prestigious festivals. Currently, she is also working on her next animation and completing a film producer fellowship.
Zaterdag 11 januari, 19:00
SPECIAL
Asian Movie Night: Beyond Borders
Composed of Innovative Shorts by Iranian Artists
Red Dress. No Straps
Maryam mohajer | IR, UK | 2018 | 8’ | EN
1985. Tehran. Iran-Iraq war. For Marmar it is another ordinary afternoon at her grandparents. The echo of ‘Death to America’ chants from the morning school assembly mixes with ‘The Voice of America’; grandad’s favourite radio program. Marmar is waiting for granny to make her a dress exactly the same as the glamorous American Popstar; Bright red. No straps.
BAFTA Winner 2020, Maryam Mohajer is an Iranian-British animator/director/writer based in London. She is an RCA graduate with a background in painting.
Noon
Roshanak Roshan | 2024 | IR, FR | 20’ | FA, EN subs
I leave Tehran Airport. My suitcase is full of souvenirs from Iran, including small bits of bread. I take them, look at them, and smell them. Why do I bring bread from Iran? In my mind, I follow the events that have affected this "human being": Revolution, war, and modernisation.
After studying Puppet theater at the Tehran Fine Arts School in Iran, Roshanak Roshan came to France in 2007. She studied at the ENSAV (Ecole nationale supérieure d’audiovisuel) in Toulouse. Her experiences as a puppeteer and film director led her to discover the world of animation.
Sorry for Staring at Me
Hanieh AliHemmati | 2022 | IR | 4’ | FA, EN subs
A girl with social anxiety shares her life in a self-portrait film. Unable to speak in front of others, she asks her best friend to speak for her as she takes us through moments where she felt watched and unable to live a normal life.
Hanieh is an Iranian animation artist based in Tehran. She works primarily in 2D digital and hand-drawn animation, focusing on personal storytelling and experimental styles. She holds a Master’s degree in Directing Animation and a Bachelor’s in Architectural Design. Her student film, Sorry for Staring at Me, a self-portrait animation, was selected for the ASIFA Student Award, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey. Her passion lies in personal storytelling and experimental animation, driving her to explore new possibilities within the medium.
This is Mine
Maryam Kashkoolinia | 2012 | IR | 6' | no dialogue
After wars landmines remain, still patiently hunting their prey…
Maryam Kashkoolinia is a celebrated animation director known for her stop-motions. Her films have graced the screens of prestigious festivals such as Annecy and Zagreb, earning accolades both nationally and internationally. Notably, Kashkoolinia's contributions extend beyond her creative endeavors; she has played pivotal roles on festival committees and served as a distinguished jury member at events like the Annecy Animation Festival in 2017. Currently, Kashkoolinia continues to create captivating animations while also teaching and inspiring the next generation of artists.
Our Uniform
Yegane Moghaddam | 2023 | IR | 7’ | FA, EN subs
An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform.
Yegane Moghaddam is an Iranian animator and illustrator who has a strong passion for nature, culture and the reality she lives in. Currently, she is based in L.A working on her new animated projects.
The Fourth Wall
Mahboobeh Kalaee | 2021 | IR | 10’ | EN subs
A family kitchen becomes very lively when seen through the eyes of a young boy with a vivid imagination.
Mahboobeh Kalaee is an Iranian 2D animator, writer, illustrator, graphic designer, and director of several short and experimental animations.
In the Gaze of Panoptes
Sara Rajaei | 2016 | IR, NL | 22’ | EN
Following his seven-year-old lucid dream, the protagonist transforms from a city man to a caveman, taking refuge in nature and becoming the perfect observer of light... the watchman... Panoptes, the giant with one hundred eyes.
Sara Rajaei is an Iranian/Dutch video artist and filmmaker in The Netherlands. In her work, she studies the notion of time by reflecting on the absence of image, memory psychology, oral history, narrative techniques, and physical/psychological space. Her artistic oeuvre consists of short films and video installations, which remain between storytelling and imagery.